Synthesis of 3-Methyl-5-(2,3,6-Trimethylphenyl)-1-penten-3-ol, an Algal Sesquiterpene

Abstract

The isolation and structure elucidation of an alcohol from the air-dried Hawaiian alga Laurencia nidifica, was reported in 1976.¹ Unassailable evidence for its identity as 3-methyl-5-(2,3,6-trimethylphenyl)-1-penten-3-01 (1), has been supplied by two syntheses, starting from 5,8-dimethyl-1-tetralone² and from 2,6,6-trimethyl-2,4-cyclohexadienone,³ respectively. We now wish to describe our approach toward this interesting sesquiterpene.