An Improved Synthesis of Hexamethylphenalene

The synthesis of 1,3,4,6,7,9-hexamethylphenalene (2) has been improved from 15 steps to a four step procedure. The overall yield has been increased from an estimated 5% to 45%. Key steps in the synthesis are the reaction of 3,5-dimethylbenzylmagnesium chloride with 2,4-pentanedionato lithium in THF to make 5-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-4-methyl-4-hydroxy-2-pentanone (5) and the Lewis acid acylation-alkation of 1,3,6,8-tetramethylnaphthalene using 3-chlorobutanoic chloride in hexane with sonication to make 1,3,4,6,7,9-hexamethyl-phenalane (2).