Heating the title compound with benzene provides a mixture of dimethyl 1, 3- dihydroxynaphthalene-2, 4-dicarboxylate and 3-carbomethoxy-4-hydroxy-5-phenylpyrone which rearranges on melting to the aforementioned naphthalene derivative. The initial substitution reaction appears to proceed through an intermediary pyronyl cation. The scope of this potential ring annelation reaction has been investigated for a range of aromatic and ...