A General Route to Homophthalic Acid Derivatives - Valuable Precursors to Isoquinolinones, Dihydronaphthols and Isocoumarins

Abstract
Homophthalic acids, esters, and anhydrides are well documented starting materials for the construction of isoquino-linones,1 isocoumarins2 and dihydronaphthols.3 Several recent literature reports further emphasize the utility of homophthalates in the construction of linear polynuclear aromatic systems.4 While several methods are available for the synthesis of homophthalates,5 these lack the ease of execution and the versatility required to make them processes of general applicability.