A Facile Total Synthesis of (3R,7RS)-3,7,11-Trimethyl-10-oxododecanoic Acid

Abstract

Abstract: The title compound, a novel sesquiterpenoid isolated from marine green algal species Caulerpa racemosa, was synthesized in five steps starting from (R)-(+)-citronellol with a 28% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis was the regioselective alkylation of the lithium enolate of isopropyl methyl ketone with allylic iodide.