Abstract: | The 2‐hydroxy‐3,5,5‐trimethylcyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 1 ) was synthesized in 42% yield by rearrangement of epoxy ketone 10 on treatment with BF3?Et2O under anhydrous conditions. Intermediate 10 was available from the known enone 8 , either via direct epoxidation (60% H2O2, NaOH, MeOH; yield 50%), or via reduction to the corresponding allylic alcohol 14 (LiAlH4, THF), followed by epoxidation (VO(acac)2], tBuOOH) and reoxidation under Swern conditions, in 37% total yield. |