The reaction of 1-ethynyl-2-vinyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes and 1-ethynyl-2-vinylnaphthalenes over RuCl2(p-cymene) PPh3 leads to 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes and phenanthrenes in those cases where the ethynyl group in the substrates carries a terminal proton. When 1-phenylethynyl-2-vinyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes or 1-phenylethynyl-2-vinylnaphthalenes are reacted over Pt(PPh3)4, 1-methylene-1H-benz[e]-4,5-dihydroindenes and 1-methylene-1H-benz[e]indenes are formed.