Abstract
The dimethylaluminum chloride (Me2AlCl) catalyzed ene reactions of aliphatic aldehydes with (E)- and (Z)-3-methyl-2-pentene (1 and 2) were examined. Complex mixtures of erythro and three adducts and double-bond position isomers were obtained. Ene reaction of 2-phenylpropionaldehyde with methylenecyclohexane gives a 1.5:1 mixture of diastereomers. Geraniol, linalool, citral, geranylacetone, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one are suitable substrates for Me2AlCl-catalyzed ene reaction with formaldehyde.