Preparation of optically active cyclohexenones: Chirons for the lipophilic moiety of flowery- and woody-like odorant ketones

Optically active 2,5,6,6- and 2,4,4,5-tetraalkylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones ((+)- 2a – d and (?)- 5a – d ), important building blocks for flowery- and woody-like odorants, have been prepared. Compounds (+)- 2a – d and (?)- 5a – d were obtained by ozonolysis of the corresponding cyclopentenic precursors, followed by intramolecular aldol condensation. Alternatively, enones (+)- 2a – d were reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols ad converted to enones (-)- 5a – d via acidic isomerization and oxidation. ¹³C-NMR assignments are presented.