ACTIVATION OF BENZYLIC CARBONS IN ETA(2)-ARENE COMPLEXES - A NOVEL AND EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF FUNCTIONALIZED DECALINS

3-Alkylated anisole complexes of pentaammineosmium(II) are treated wit h methyl vinyl ketone and triflic acid to form 4H-anisolium Michael ad ducts. These compounds deprotonate regioselectively at the benzylic po sition adjacent to C3 and then undergo an aldol cyclization with the p endant carbonyl to form the decalin core. Reduction of the dienonium p roduct can be directed in a 1,4 fashion to generate a trans decalin or in a 1,2 fashion to provide a methoxydiene complex that serves as a p recursor to other functionalized decalins.