Abstract The odor principle β-damascenone and its isomer α-damascenone have been prepared by treatment of the corresponding ethyl safranates with excess allyl lithium followed by alkoxide catalyzed isomerization of the resulting products with β, γ-unsaturated ketonic side chains. Addition of allyltriphenylphosphorane (preferably prepared from allyltriphenylphosphonium chloride) rather than the propenyl isomer to ethyl α- ...
