Synthesis of methyl epijasmonate and cis-3-(2-oxopropyl)-2-(pent-2Z-enyl)-cyclopentan-1-one

A novel and efficient synthesis of both (±)-methyl epijasmonate and (±)-cis-3-(2-oxopropyl)-2-(pent-2Z-enyl)-cyclopentan-1-one is described. The key step to establish the cis-stereochemistry on the 5-membered ring is an ionic Diels–Alder reaction, which is high yielding and highly regioselective. Subsequent key steps include oxidative cleavage of the six-membered ring, Wittig coupling and for the synthesis of epijasmonate, the haloform reaction.