Cascade reaction of 2,3-naphthalenediol with benzene in the presence of aluminum halides

2,3-Naphthalenediol on superelectrophilic activation with aluminium halides smoothly reacts with benzene to give 4-((3-phenyl-1H-inden-1-yl)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol, which in turn undergoes intramolecular cyclization to form 5,10-methano-5-phenyldibenzo[a,d]cycloheptane-2,3-diol. The mechanistic aspects of these unusual transformations are discussed.