Introduction of a nitrogen atom at one of the acetylenic termini of 10-, 11-, 12-, and 13-membered
benzannulated cyclic enediynes results in a complete suppression of the conventional radica
Bergman reaction in favor of a polar cycloaromatization. The latter reaction is catalyzed by acid
and proceeds via initial protonation of an ynamide fragment. The resulting ketenimmonium cation
then cyclizes to produce naphthyl cation, which rapidly reacts with nucleophiles or undergoe
Friedel-Crafts addition to aromatic compounds. In alcohols, addition of the nucleophilic solven
across the activated triple bond competes with the cyclization reaction. The ratio of cyclized to
solvolysis products decreases with the increase in ring size.