Acyl carbamates can be selectively reduced with diisobutyl aluminum hy
dride to provide high yields of N-acyl hemiaminals 1. With appropriate
substitution, these intermediates undergo Lewis acid catalyzed intram
olecular exo cyclization reactions to afford l-amino 1,2,3,4-tetrahydr
onaphthalene derivatives. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.