Reaction of 1-methoxy-2-methyl-1-trimethylsilyloxyprop-1-ene (8) with 1-acetoxy-1-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropane (7b) in the presence of zinc iodide gave 84% of methyl 3-(4′methoxyphenyl)-2,2,4,4- tetramethylpentanoate (9a), which was reduced with lithium aluminium hydride to 3-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentan-1-ol(12a). Hydride reduction of the derived tosylate (12b) afforded 3-(4′-methoxyphenyl )-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane (5b) which upon demethylation yielded the corresponding phenol (10a). In an analogous manner, 1-acetoxy-1-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropane (7d) was converted into 3- (4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2,4-trimethylpentane (10b). By a similar reaction sequence, 6-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4- dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (14) was transformed into 6-hydroxy-2,2- dimethyl-1-(1′,1′-dimethylethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (16b). Hydrolysis of the ester (9a) and cyclization of the resulting carboxylic acid (19) by treatment with methanesulfonic acid at 20° for 18 h afforded 3-(1′, 1′-dimethylethyl)-6-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one (20). Clemmensen reduction of this followed by demethylation yielded 1-(1′,1′-dimethylethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-ol (21b). Attempts to oxidize the phenols (10a), (10b), (16b) and (21b) to the corresponding quinone methides by conventional methods failed.
