A general and concise enantioselective divergent approach to 13-alkyl-substituted ionones

A novel enantioselective divergent route to 13-alkyl derivatives of α- and γ-ionone, important components of perfumes and fragrances, is reported. This relatively short and convenient methodology takes advantage of the use of a common intermediate, easily obtained from highly enantiomerically enriched (S)-α-ionone, which avoids the separate installation of the butenone side chain at C(6) for each analog. Olfactory evaluation of synthesized compounds reconfirmed the influence of the hydrophobic interactions of alkyl substituents at C(5) with olfactory receptors (ORs) in the chemoreception of ionones, and suggested that a synperiplanar orientation of C(13) and the lateral chain is the better geometry fitting OR's cavity.