Diels-Alder approach to tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls employing propargylic tertiary alcohols as dienophiles

The efficient synthesis of a series of tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls is described utilizing a Diels-Alder reaction between propargylic tertiary alcohols and cyclic oxygenated dienes. The successful resolution of one of the biaryls is achieved through derivatization with menthyl chloroformate followed by crystallization. The menthyl carbamate is cleaved under basic conditions to reveal enantiomerically pure biaryl compounds.