A Short Synthesis of (.+-.)-Muscone.

(±)-Muscone ((±)-1) has been synthesised in three steps from 2-(2′-methylprop-2′-enyl)cyclododecan-1-one (2). The synthesis involves two key transformations: a Lewis-acid-mediated intramolecular ene reaction (23) and the β-cleavage of the bicyclic potassium alkoxide 3a′ to the macrocyclic enone (Z)-11.