Synthesis of (+)-β-Bisabolene

Abstract

β-Bisabolene (1) is one of the simplest monocyclic sesqui-terpenes found in nature.¹ Many syntheses² involving chain extension on cyclohexenyl derivatives have been published. We now wish to describe a new route which features a Diels-Alder reaction to assemble all but one carbon atom of the sesquiterpene.