Functionalization of Isoprene Dimers

The dimers of isoprene can be transformed into a great number of terpenoids. For instance, terpene alcohols can be formed by hydrobora-tion [30, 114, 115] and epoxidation [116] reactions. Also the reaction with sulphur dioxide yielding sulfones [117, 118] has been studied. Ploner described the reaction of the 2,7-dimethyl-l,3,7-octatriene with alcohols such as methanol or ethanol [119] yielding terpene ethers which can be used as frangrancies. As catalyst, n H2O or H2lrCl6 proved to be 

Further interesting possibilities to functionalize isoprene dimers are mentioned by Morikawa and Kitazume [120]. They started with 2,6-dime- 

Many other ideas on the functionalization of terpenoid compounds are given by Hoffmann [121], McQuillin [122] and Boelens [123]. 

As is shown in a simplified manner in Equation 67, a great number of unsaturated and/or functional fine products can be produced by dimerization reactions of dienes and functional monoenes. 

Behr and M. Roper, in Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry (Ed. G. Wilkinson), Pergamon Press (Oxford), Vol. 8, p. 371—462 (1982). 

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