Alternative Route for the Synthesis of 6‐Methoxy‐5‐methyl‐α‐tetralone and 6‐Methoxy‐2,5‐dimethyl‐α‐tetralone

Abstract

The ketoesters 3 and 4, obtained by the condensation of 2‐cyclohexanone carboxylate and 1‐chloro‐3‐pentanone, were heated with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) to yield the dienones 5 and 6, which on hydrolysis with potassium t‐butoxide and dimethyl sulfoxide afforded tetralin 8. These were converted to tetralone 10 by methylation and oxidation respectively. Further methylation of 10 yielded tetralone 11.

Keywords:

• annelation
• aromatization
• dehydrogenation
• hydrolysis
• tetralone