Abstract: The selective formation of 2-acetonaphthalene is achieved by acetylating naphthalene in the presence of liquid hydrogen fluoride. The 2-acetonaphthalene can be separated from the formed 1-acetonaphthalene isomer by successive hydrogenation of the isomer mixture and dehydration. The hydrogenation is selective to the 2-isomer while the 1-acetonaphthalene remains unreacted. Upon completion, 2-vinylnaphthalene can be distilled off from the unreacted 1-acetonaphthalene.

Abstract: A method of forming 6-substituted-2-vinyl naphthalene from a 2-substituted naphthalene compound wherein the substituent in the 2-position is an ortho-para directing electron-donating group not reactive with hydrogen fluoride, comprises contacting the naphthalene compound and an acylating agent with substantially anhydrous hydrogen fluoride to acylate the naphthalene compound to a 6-substituted-2-acylnaphthalene compound, hydrogenating the 6-substituted-2-acylnaphthalene compound to convert the 2-acyl substituent to an alcohol substituent, dehydrating the product of hydrogenation in the presence of a free radical inhibitor to convert the alcohol substituent to an olefinic substituent, and isolating the formed 6-substituted-2-vinylnaphthalene subsequent to the dehydration.