SnCl2-2H2O (0.17 mol) is added to a solution of 4-[methyl-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)amino]-3-nitrobenzonitrile (31) (R4=CH3, 34.0 mmol) in EtOAc (125 mL) and the mixture is heated at 80° C. for 1 h. After cooling, to the reaction mixture are successively added 6N NaOH (120 mL), H2O (150 mL), and EtOAc (150 mL). The reaction mixture is filtered through Celite (25 g) and washed with EtOAc. The organic layer is dried over MgSO4 and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting solid is washed with hexane to give (32) (R4=CH3).
