Preparation of13C8 derivatives of naphthalene, octachloronaphthalene and two hexachloronaphthalenes

A mild high yield sequence is reported for the synthesis of (C-13(8)) naphthalene from (C-13(6)) benzene and (C-13(2)) succinic acid involving Friedel-Crafts condensation, Wolff-Kishner reduction, polyphosphoric acid cycliacylation, sodium borohydride reduction and palladium dehydrogenation. Perchlorination of (C-13(8)) naphthalene gave a good yield of (C-13(8)) octachloronaphthalene from which the (C-13(8)) hexachloronaphthalenes were obtained by zinc/acetic acid reduction.