Ozonolysis of naphthalene in aqueous methanol, followed by the reduction of peroxy compounds thus formed with potassium iodide in the presence of acetic acid, gave 3-methoxy-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one. In the absence of water, the product was methyl o-formylbenzoate. The latter was used as a synthon for the preparation of aromatic analogs of (2E)-2,6-dimethyloct-2-ene-1,8-diol ethers which are effective juvenoids.