The title compound (8) which is an intermediate towards the iso­chroman system, possibly related to the fungal metabolites of rotiorin type has been synthesised. Reaction of 3,5-dibenzyloxy-4-methylphenylacetyl chloride (I) with isobutyl magnesium bromide furnished 1-{3,5-dibenzyloxy-4­methyl phenyl )-4-methylpentan-2-one (2) which was debenzylated to 1-{3,5­dihydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-4-methylpentan-2-one (3). Formylation of the ketone (3) gave benzopyrillium salt (6) which was decomposed to 1-{2-formyl-3,5­di hydroxy-4-methyl phenyl )-4-methylpentan-2-one (7) and on methylation gave 1-{2-formyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-4-methylpentan-2-one (8). {~)-I­(3,5-Diacetoxy-4-methylphenyl)-4-methylpentan-2-ylacetate (5) was obtained from (~)-I-{3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylphenyl )-4-methylpentan-2-ol (4) which was synthesised from the ketone (3).


E S TURNER ,N H RAMA ,