A solution of 445 mg (1 mmol) of Methyl-4-[(E)-2-(3-Bromomethyl-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl]benzoate, 418 mg (3 mmol) of potassium carbonate and 180 mg (2 mmol) of 1-butanethiol in 10 mL dimethylformamide was heated to reflux. After 40 minutes, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, then diluted with water. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic extracts washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, then concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (5% ethyl acetate/hexane) to give 263 mg (58%) of Methyl-4-[(E)-2-(3-Butylthiomethyl-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl]benzoate.
