To a solution of 520.0 mg (2.00 mmol) of 3,4- dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromo-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound B) and 510.0 mg (2.90 mmol) of ethyl 4-vinylbenzoate in 4.0 ml of triethylamine (degassed by sparging with argon for 25 minutes), was added 124.0 mg (0.40 mmol) of tris(2-methylphenyl) phosphine, followed by 44.0 mg (0.20 mmol) of palladium(II)acetate. The resulting solution was heated to 95° C. for 2.5 hours, cooled to room temperature, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by column chromatography (10% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 8.19 (1H, d, J=2,0 Hz), 8.03 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.69 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.2 Hz), 7.57 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.20 (2H, s), 4.39 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.76 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 2.04 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 1.41(3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, and 6H, s).
