H-bond-assisted intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of the 1-NMe2 group in 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes as a route to multinuclear heterocyclic compounds and strained naphthalene derivatives.

It has been shown that azomethines, hydrazones, and oximes derived from 2(7)-carbonyl derivatives of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene can undergo acid-catalyzed heterocyclization leading to a nucleophilic displacement of the 1-NMe(2) group. The process is believed to be directly connected with the proton sponge nature of the substrates, in which 1-NMe(2), being a poor leaving group, is preliminary activated via the formation of a chelated protonated form. A number of difficult to access derivatives of benzo[g]indazole, benzo[g]quinazoline, naphtho[2,1-d]isoxazole, and 8-dimethylamino-1-naphthol have been prepared in moderate to high yields.