Preparation of Linear Telomers and Oligomers

Various natural products have been synthesized from telomers prepared by a Pd or Nickel catalyzed telomerization of conjugated dienes such as butadiene and isoprene. 

Steroids have also been prepared from such telomers  

It is noteworthy that natural terpenoids have not yet been prepared by selective dimerization of isoprene with Pd or Ni catalysts. Even telomerization of isoprene with methanol does not lead to citronellol since the methoxy group is not located at the proper position the synthesis of the natural isomer requires additional steps [35, 36]. 

Asymmetric synthesis of citronellol has been reported with Pd-dialkyl-menthylphosphonites (Men P(OR)2) as catalyst [48]. 

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