Synthesis of Some Non-Conjugated Dienones in the Retro-α-Ionone Series¹

Abstract

In the course of a study on the photochemical and thermal behaviour of β,γ-δ,ε-dienones^1-4, (E)-retro-α-ionone (2a) and a series of methylated (3, 4) and desmethyl analogues (2b-2e) have been synthesized by a simple deconjugative isomerization of the corresponding conjugated dienones in strong alkaline solution. 3-Methyl- (3) and 3,3-dimethyl-retro-α-ionone (4) have been prepared by addition of methyl chloride to a strongly alkaline solution of β-ionone (1a).⁵