Methods of making fused ring compounds

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of making fused ring compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthols, and fused ring indenopyran compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthopyrans, that each employ an unsaturated compound represented by the following Formula II. Referring to the unsaturated compound of Formula II: Ring-A can be selected from optionally substituted aryl (e.g., phenyl); m can be, for example, from 0 to 4; Rfor each m can be selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., C-Calkyl) optionally interrupted with at least one linking group (e.g., —O—); and Rand Rcan each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, such as C-Calkyl. When Ring-A is a phenyl group, the unsaturated compound represented by Formula II can be referred to as an unsaturated indanone acid/ester compound, or an indenone acid/ester compound (depending on whether Ris hydrogen, or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group).