Photoreactivite de l'ester de dieckmann α-methyle. Applications de la reaction du type I de norrish a la synthese du dihydroterpenediol secrete par danaus chrysippus et a celle des alcools du lilas

The α-methyl Dieckmann ester, when irradiated with UV light, gives a mixture of relatively light stable E and Z isomers of 5-carbethoxyhex-4-en-1-al 2, (77% yield). Although the 2E isomer can be isolated in pure form in almost 50% yield, separation of the two isomers is unnecessary. Their formation has been used as a key step in the total synthesis of the dihydroterpenediol 3 (34% overall yield) secreted by Danaus Chrysippus (African Monarch), and the four lilac alcohols 4.