Synthesis of (E,E)-Tricyclohexaprenol by Reactive Barium-Promoted Coupling of a Geranyl- and an Isocopalenyl Moiety

The difficult coupling of a geranyl- and an isocopalenyl moiety to form tricyclohexaprenol could be carried out by allylation of isocopalenal with an 8-geranylbarium chloride followed by reduction of the so-formed hindered hydroxy group via a xanthate.