Synthesis of a potent (±)-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl) analogue of the acromelic acids by dearomatising cyclisation of a lithiated Np-methoxybenzyl-4-methoxy-1-naphthamide
Dearomatising anionic cyclisation of N-cumyl-Np-methoxybenzyl-4-methoxy-1-naphthamide 8 diastereoselectively generates a pyrrolidinone-fused tetralone 12 which may be transformed in seven steps to the racemic form of a known non-natural member of the aryl kainoid family 4 having potent biological activity. Key steps of the synthesis are ruthenium- catalysed oxidation of the C2-p-methoxybenzyl ring of 12 to a carboxylic acid and Baeyer– ...