Abstract
To the problem of determining the structure of
naphthalene have been applied many methods, physical
and chemical. Among the physical methods may be
mentioned, measurement of dipole moments, refractivities, and X -ray spectra. It is intended in this
thesis, to deal with the subject chiefly from the evidence obtained from chemical reactions. In spite of
innumerable researches the structure of naphthalene
still remains indefinite.
From evidence obtained here and from the work of
previous authors it was concluded that the nature of
the substituents on an aromatic ring had a powerful influence on the arrangement of bonds in the ring and
therefore although our results with regard to the naphthalene series were in agreement with the Erlenmeyer
formula for naphthalene we do not consider ourselves
justified in claiming this work to be evidence in favour of. the Erlenmeyer formula for an unsubstituted naphthalene molecule.
