Synthesis of 4,6‐Dimethyldibenzothiophene and 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydro‐4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene via Tilak Annulation

1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydro‐4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene was prepared by coupling 2‐bromo‐3‐methylcyclohexanone with 2‐methylbenzenethiol and annulating the product with the aid of polyphosphoric acid. A mixture of 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene and 4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene was prepared by coupling 2‐bromo‐3‐methylcyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one with 2‐methylbenzenethiol and annulating the product with the aid of polyphosphoric acid. 2‐Bromo‐3‐methylcyclohexanone was synthesized by conjugate addition of Me 3 Al to 2‐bromocyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one with CuBr as catalyst and 2‐bromo‐3‐methylcyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one by brominationelimination of 3‐methylcyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one. 1,2,3,4,4a,9b‐Hexahydro‐4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene was prepared by reduction of 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene with Zn and CF 3 COOH.