the enzymatic hydrolysis of meso-1,7-diacetoxy-2,6-dimethylheptane 5, prepared from 2,6-dimethylhepta-1,6-diene 6, gave the (2s,6r)-7-acetoxy-2,6-dimethyl-1-heptanol 1, which was transformed to the (2r,6r)-2,6,10-trimethyl-1-undecanol 7. in this manner, the c14 side chain of a-tocopherol was synthesized from 2,6-dimethylhepta-1,6-diene 6 in only 5 steps.
