Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing dideoxyzearalane and related compounds which comprises reacting a hexahydrozearalin with an organic sulfonyl chloride to form a sulfonate ester derivative; recovering the sulfonate ester derivative; and catalytically dehydrosulfonyloxylating and aromatizing the sulfonate ester derivative to form the desired product.

Abstract: This invention provides a new synthesis for zearalanone and for related compounds having more or fewer carbon atoms in the non-aromatic ring than does zearalanone, which related compounds and zearalanone are represented by the formula ##SPC1##Wherein X is an integer having a value from 2 to 6 inclusive and Y is an integer having a value from 2 to 8 inclusive. It also provides for new methods of making compounds useful in the synthesis of zearalanone and related compounds.The new compounds useful as intermediates are 2,7-octadienoic acid; methyl 2,7-octadienoate; sodium ethyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-dihydroresorcylate; ethyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-dihydroresorcylate; sodium methyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-dihydroresorcylate; methyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-dihydroresorcylate; methyl 3-bromo-6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-dihydroresorcylate; methyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-resorcylate; ethyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-resorcylate; ethyl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.-resorcylate dibenzyl ether; and 4-penten-2-yl 6-(4-pentenyl)-.beta.