We-report the first example of metal, mediated acetylene bicydopentainerization to form naphthalene in the gas phase. The bicyclic aromatic compound was observed in a complex with La. The La(naphthalene) complex was, formed by the reaction of, laser-ablated La atoms with acetylene molecules in a molecular beam source and was characterized by mass,: analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy. he bicyclooligomerization reaction, occurs through sequential acetylene additions coupled with dehydrogenation. Three intermediates in the reaction have been identified: lanthanacyclopropene [La(C2H2)], La(cyclobut-1-en-3-yne) [La(C4H2)], and La(benzyne) [(La(C6H4)]. The metal-ligand bonding in the three intermediates is considerably different from that in the La(naphthalene) complex, as suggested by accurately measured adiabatic ionization energies.