Terpenoids :Part XXXI. A New Synthesis of lsopropenyl Mono-cyclic Terpenoids

Based on hydrogenolysis of suitably substituted ,\(\beta\)-allylic carbinols with sodium and alcohol in liquid ammonia, a new method of synthesising isopropylenic terpenes has been developed. The utility of this technique has been demonstrated by affecting new and facile syntheses of (±)-dihydrocarvone, (±)-carvone, (±)-perillaldehyde, (±)-4-methyl-isopropenyl cyclohexane and ( ± )-\(\alpha\)-curcumene.