Synthesis of (3S*,4R*,6E,10Z)-3,4,7,11-tetramethyltrideca-6,10-dienal (faranal) using stereospecific 1,4-cis-hydrogenation of conjugated double bonds

Abstract

(±)-Faranal was synthesised by a convergent route involving 1,4-cis-hydrogenation of two properly substituted conjugated diene building blocks to introduce stereospecifically the 6(E) and 10(Z) double bonds of the final target molecule. meso-2,3-Dimethylsuccinic acid was used to prepare a building block for the ‘right-hand’ part of faranal carrying two vicinal erythro-configured methyl groups.