A process for preparing a compound of the formula ##STR41## in which the pair (C X, A) is selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2, O), (CH--C.sub.6 H.sub.5, O) and (CH.sub.2, S), R.sub.1 is alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, phenyl or chlorophenyl, n is 1 or 2, and R is hydrogen, halogen, one or two methoxy groups or --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- connected to the 5 and 6 positions of the phenyl nucleus whereby to form a naphthyl nucleus, which comprises condensing the lithium derivative of a compound of the formula ##STR42## in which R has the same meaning as defined above, and the pair (A, R.sub.2) is selected from the group consisting of (S, H), (O, H) and (O, C.sub.6 H.sub.5), with a compound of the formula ##STR43## in which R.sub.1 and n have the same meanings as defined above.