Retinoids 1-5 have been identified as potent RXR agonists for evaluation in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Highly convergent syntheses of 1- 5 have been developed. The core tetrahydronaphthalene 7, employed in the synthesis of 1 and 2, was prepared in 98% yield using an AlCl3-catalyzed (0.03 equiv) Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene with 2, 5-dichloro-2, 5-dimethylhexane 6. A nitromethane-mediated ...