A practical synthesis of (E)-2-cyclopentadecen-1-one: an important precursor of macrocyclic muscone

A practical synthesis of (E)-2-cyclopentadecen-1-one (E)-2 which is an important precursor of macrocyclic muscone (1) was investigated. Olefination of 2-mesyloxycyclopentadecanone (7c) with strong acid such as sulfuric acid or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid afforded the desired (E)-2 in high yield with extremely high stereoselectivity, which was treated with methylmagnesium cuprate to furnish the dl-muscone in good yield.