An easy, four-step access to naturally occurring (+/-)-(E)-2-hexylidene-3-m
ethylsuccinic acid (piliformic acid, 1) with 49% overall yield has been des
cribed via Wittig reaction of methyl(triphenylphosphoranylidene)succinimide
7 with hexanal followed by acid-induced hydrolysis of the formed succinimi
de derivatives (E)-8 plus (Z)-9.