Download full text in PDF Opens in a new window. Article suggestions will be shown in a dialog on return to ScienceDirect. ... Please enable JavaScript to use all the features on this page. ... Chiral 3-methyl-heptanoic acid is readily accessible by functional group manipulation of optically active citronellol. In principle, this approach is general and could be applied to the synthesis of chiral 3-methyl-alkanoic acids seven carbon atoms in length and longer.