3,7-Dimethyloctanal → Methyl 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 1.5 g. of dihydrocitronellal, 2.7 g. of diethyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylprop-2-enyl phosphonate and 5 ml. of dimethylformamide, under nitrogen and at 0°, with stirring, is added slowly sodium methoxide (250 mg. sodium and 5 ml. of methanol). After addition is complete, the reaction is left two hours at room temperature and then worked up by extraction with ether/hexane to yield methyl 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

Provenance & Evidence