4-(5-Cyclopropylamino-8,8-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalene-2-ylethynyl)-benzoic acid ethyl ester → 6-Bromo-8-vinyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-chroman

A solution of methylidene triphenyl phosphorane [generated from methyl triphenylphosphonium bromide (7 g, 20 mmol) and (11.8 mL, 19 mmol) of a 1 .6M solution of n-butyl lithium in hexanes] was added 6-bromo-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl chroman-8-carbaldehyde (Intermediate 30, 0.52 g, 1.75 mmol). After 1 h the reaction mixture was diluted with hexane, washed with brine (×1), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated in vacuo to a clear oil which was subjected to flash column chromatography over silica gel (230-400 mesh) using 2% ethyl acetate in hexane as the eluent to afford the title compound as a clear oil (0.37 g, 72%).