ABSTRACT
An intramolecular reductive coupling process of diketone with low-valent titanium species to form a dihydronapthalene skeleton was an important step in the synthesis of nafoxidine (1) and lasofoxifene (2). Diketone 6 was prepared in a convenient, three-step sequence starting from 3-methoxy benzaldehyde in good yields.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Acknowledgment
We thank Suven Life Sciences for allowing us to publish this work and for excellent analytical services.