Selective syntheses of substituted 6-alkyl-1,1-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)86337-7

β-ionone is cyclized to 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene in 80-95% yield. Selective derivatization at the 5- and/or 7-positions of 6-alkyl-1,1-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes was achieved by nitration, acylation, and reduction.