Cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate for the tandem nitration and oxidative rearrangement of 2-Acetyl-1-naphthol benzoylhydrazones into 1,2-diacylnaphthalenes; synthesis of benzo[f]phthalazines

A novel nitration and oxidation reaction sequence of 2-Acetyl-1-naphthol benzoylhydrazones with CAN is presented. There is strong indication that nitration precedes an oxidative rearrangement to 1,2-diacyl-4- nitronaphthalenes or oxidative electrocyclisation to 3-methyl-5-nitronaphtho[2,1-d]isoxazole. Condensation of 1,2-diacyl-4-nitronaphthalenes with hydrazine hydrate yields 1,4-disubstituted benzo[f]phthalazines.