Several aliphatic nitriles, esters, sulfones, and ketones bearing an wo-chlorophenyl substituent react with potassium amide in liquid ammonia to furnish cyclization products in which a homocyclic ring is fused into the benzene ring. Beneocyclobutene, indane, tetralin, and benzocycloheptene derivatives have been prepared, mostly in yields of 5&80%. Aryne intermediates are thought to be involved; this view is supported by the fact that both ortho- ...
