The practical and versatile syntheses of angular hydroxymethylated dec
alones as potential synthetic intermediates for terpenoids are describ
ed. Particularly angular hydroxymethylated bicyclodecanedione 1 has be
en synthesized in 45 % overall yield from methyl 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-dih
ydrobenzoate via six step sequence. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.