Reductive coupling of α,β-enones I: Reduction of methyl-vinyl ketone and mesityl oxide.

Reductive coupling of methyl-vinyl ketone with TiCl₄-Mg gives pinacol $\text{1}$ (25%). According to the reducing agents, mesityl oxide yields 2,4,5,7-tetramethyl-octa-2,4,6-triene $\text{3}$ (with 4TiCl₃-LialH₄), triene $\text{3}$ or 2,4,5,7-tetramethyl-octa-2,6-dien-4,5-diol $\text{5}$ (with TiCl₄-Mg), pinacol $\text{5}$ (with VCl₃-Mg), and 2-acetyl-1,3,3,4,4-pentamethyl-cyclopentane $\text{7}$ (with CrCl₃-Mg or FeCl₃-Mg or ZrCl₄ or ZrCl₄-Mg) as major products.