Enantioselective Synthesis of a trans-7,8-Dimethoxycalamenene

trans-7,8-Dimethoxy-11,12-dehydrocalamenene, a projected intermediate for the total synthesis of marine serrulatane and amphilectane diterpenes, was efficiently synthesized. Starting from a styrene, asymmetric Rh-catalyzed hydroboration using a novel chiral P,P-bidentate ligand afforded an organoboron intermediate (93% ee) which was directly used for C-C bond formation (double homologation, Suzuki coupling). The 1,4-trans-disubstituted tetralin skeleton was selectively formed by a Friedel-Crafts-type cationic cyclization under strictly aprotic conditions (Me2AlCl) to suppress a remarkable proton-catalyzed disproportionation via diastereoselective hydride transfer.