A Short Synthesis of (±)-Muscone

(±)-Muscone ((±)-1) has been synthesised in three steps from 2-(2′-methylprop-2′-enyl)cyclododecan-1-one ( 2 ). The synthesis involves two key transformations: a Lewis-acid-mediated intramolecular ene reaction ( 2→3 ) and the β-cleavage of the bicyclic potassium alkoxide 3a′ to the macrocyclic enone (Z)- 11 .