Abstract 4-(2, 3-Dimethylphenyl) butanoic acid (4) was treated with excess of methyllithium to yield 5-(2, 3-dimethylphenyl)-2-methylpentan-2-ol (6) which was cyclodehydrated using Dowex 50W-X8 resin, trifluoroacetic acid or polyphosphoric acid (PPA) to furnish 1, 1, 5, 6- tetramethyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronaphthalene (1). The acid 4 was cyclized with PPA to furnish 5, 6-dimethyl-3, 4-dihydronaphthalen-1 (2H)-one (5) which was converted into 1 by ...