Photosensitized oxygenation of α-farnesene

Abstract

The photosensitized oxygenation of α-farnesene gave a series of hydroperoxides. After reduction, the following sesquiterpenoid alcohols were isolated and spectroscopically characterized: 2,6,10- trimethyldodeca-3,6,9,11-tetraen-2-ol (2), 6,10-dimethyl-2- methylenedodeca-6,9,11-trien-3-ol (3), 3,11-dimethyl-7-methylenedodeca- 1,3,10-trien-6-ol (5), and 7,11-dimethyl-3-methylenedodeca-1,6,10- trien-4-ol (7). 3,7,11-Trimethyldodecan-4-ol, -5-ol, and -6-ol were synthesized as reference compounds.