Novel synthesis of α-arylnaphthalenes from diphenylacetaldehydes and 1,1-diphenylacetones

A two-step synthesis of 1-amino-4-arylnaphthalene-2-carbonitriles from diphenylacetaldehydes and 1,1-diphenylacetones involves condensation of the carbonyl compounds with malonodinitrile and cyclization of the aryl-ylidenemalonodinitriles obtained in concentrated sulfuric acid. The benzannulation reaction is accompanied with a quasi-aromatic rearrangement. Some of synthesized aminonitriles reveal considerable biological activity against phytopathogenic fungi.