Abstract A gram-scale synthesis of terminally-branched iso-fatty acids (iso-C 12–C 19) was developed commencing with methyl undec-10-enoate (methyl undecylenate)(for iso-C 12–C 14) or the C 15 and C 16 lactones pentadecanolide (for iso-C 15–C 17) and hexadecanolide (for iso-C 18–C 19). Central to the approaches outlined is the two-step construction of the terminal isopropyl group through addition of methylmagnesium bromide to the ester/ ...
