Diastereoselective Friedel–Crafts\nAlkylation\nof Hydronaphthalenes

Abstract

An efficient and versatile synthesis of chiral tetralins\nhas been\ndeveloped using both inter- and intramolecular Friedel–Crafts\nalkylation as a key step. The readily available hydronaphthalene substrates\nwere prepared via a highly enantioselective metal-catalyzed ring opening\nof <i>meso</i>-oxabicyclic alkenes followed by hydrogenation.\nA wide variety of complex tetracyclic compounds have been isolated\nwith high levels of regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity.