Two phenoliclipids, 3-[(8Z,11Z)-8,11,14- and 3-[(8Z,11E,13E)-8,11,13-pentadecatrienyl]catechol, which are the major constituents of the sap from a Japanese or Chinese lactree, Rhus vernicifera, have been synthesized via the Wittig reaction of ylides derived from 3,6- and 3,5-heptadienylphosphonium salts with 3-(8-oxooctyl)catechol diacetate.