Synthesis and stereochemical assignment of geraniol- and nerol-derived Cygerol enantiomers

The enantiomers (up to 99% ee) of both geraniol- and nerol-derived 2-cyclohexyl-5,9-dimethyldeca-4,8-dienoic acid, the active ingredient of the wound healing medication Cygerol, were prepared via a low-temperature alkylation, basic hydrolysis, derivatization with (S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one and chromatographic separation steps. The absolute configuration of stereocenters in the antipodes having an (E)- or (Z)-geometry of the internal double bond was determined based on characteristic ¹H NMR signals of the corresponding (S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one-derived imides and on conversion to the known diethyl (S)-2-cyclohexylsuccinate and (S)-2-cyclohexylbutane-1,4-diol with reported specific rotations.