A natural inexpensive acyclic monoterpene ketone (dihydrotagetone) of formula (4), isolated from the oil of Tagetes sp., was smoothly oxidized with metaperiodate/potassium permanganate into 2,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-heptanoic acid of formula (3), the reduction of 3 with metal hydride such as sodium borohydride or lithium aluminium hydride provided 4-hydroxyacid of formula (2) which on without isolation undergone lactonisation in acidic medium furnished two chiral centered 5-isobutyl-3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-2(3H)-furanone of formula (1) as an analogue of whisky lactone 5-butyl-4-methyl-4,5-dihydro-2(3H)-furanone of formula (1a) responsible for high quality of alcoholic beverage (whisky, wine, brandy and scotch), in addition, coconut flavoured 5-butyl-4-methyl-4,5-dihydro-2(3H)-furanone of formula (1) is also as an analogue of coconut aldehyde (&ggr;-nonalactone, F.E.M.A. No. 2751) of formula (1b) which is responsible for flavouring a wide range of food stuffs including baked goods and confectionery.
                            从Tagetes sp.的油中分离出的一种天然廉价无环单萜酮(二氢
紫菀酮)的
化学式(4),经过与
高碘酸钾/
高锰酸钾的平稳氧化反应,得到了
化学式(3)的2,6-二甲基-
4-氧代庚酸。将3还原为
金属
氢化物(如
硼氢化钠或铝
锂氢化物)可以得到
化学式(2)的
4-羟基酸。在酸性介质中,
化学式(2)的内酯化反应未经分离,生成了两个手性中心的5-异丁基-3-甲基-4,5-二氢-2(3H)-
呋喃酮,
化学式为(1),作为威士忌
呋喃酮5-丁基-4-甲基-4,5-二氢-2(3H)-
呋喃酮的类似物,后者是高质量酒类(威士忌,葡萄酒,白兰地和苏格兰威士忌)的重要成分之一。此外,
化学式(1)的椰子风味的5-丁基-4-甲基-4,5-二氢-2(3H)-
呋喃酮也是
椰子醛(&ggr;-壬内酯,F.E.M.A.编号2751)的类似物,后者是调味各种食品,包括糕点和糖果的重要成分之一。