Synthesis of 2,2-dialkyl chromanes by intramolecular Ullmann C–O coupling reactions toward the total synthesis of D-α-tocopherol

Abstract

The complete synthesis of D-α-tocopherol was achieved using our developed-Ullmann C–O coupling reaction as a key reaction. The synthesis of the core structure of D-α-tocopherol, which is a chiral chromane, has never been reported using intramolecular Ullmann C–O coupling reactions owing to the low reactivity of electron-rich iodoarenes with tertiary alcohols. Because the developed intramolecular C–O coupling reactions prefer electron-rich iodoarenes with tertiary alcohols, we successfully synthesized the chiral chromane core and achieved the total synthesis of D-α-tocopherol.