Chemistry of Odorants: Stereoselective Synthesis of Octahydronaphthalene-based perfumery Georgywood,(+,-)-1-[(1R*,2S*)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-Octahydro-1,2,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalen-2-yl]ethan-1-one

A straightforward synthesis of octahydronaphthalene-based fragrance, such as Georgywood, is described. The Lewis acid tin (IV) chloride catalysed efficiently an original one-pot sequential cycloaddition-clyclization process by reaction of myrcene with 3-bromo-but-3-en-2-one, leading directly to the octahydronaphthalene skeleton in very good yields ( 85% ). Then, dehydrohalogenation with DBU gave the key 2,4-dienone intermediate in excellent yield ( 85% ). Regioselective Michael addition gave rise to the formation of the addition product as a trans/cis diastereoisomeric mixture, by reaction either with CH3Cu.BF3 ( 6:1 ratio, 70% ) or (CH3)2CuLi/TMSCl reagents ( 3 : 1 ratio, 80% ). The generation of thermodynamically more stable enolate by treatment of the diastereoisomeric mixture with sodium hydride in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of an excess of methyl iodide, allowed stereoselective introduction of the methyl group at C-2, leading to the formation of Georgywood in good yield ( 60% ), as the only diastereoisomer, with a trans stereochemistry of the two methyl groups as demonstrated by NMR experiments.