Abstract Minimum-energy calculations and the conformation of the (11Z)-retinylidium moiety in bovine rhodopsin called into doubt that the function of the dienone motif of a new class of musk odorants 1–6 was to stiffen and planarize the compounds. To investigate the function and importance of these double bonds, the three most potent representatives of the family of dienone musks were partially and fully hydrogenated, and the products were evaluated for ...
