An asymmetric synthesis of 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (ADTN)

An asymmetric synthesis of 2-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, which can be converted to the title compound by a literature procedure, is described. The synthesis, starting from 2-amino-4,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid and the acrylate of S-methyl lactate, was accomplished in eight steps in 11% overall yield and > 97% optical purity.