A Common Approach to the Synthesis of Monocyclofarnesyl Sesquiterpenes

3beta-hydroxy-4,4,10beta-trimethyl-9-decalone and its dehydroxy analogue are useful intermediates whose Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and subsequent two-carbon homologation provides a quick entry into the monocyclofarnesyl skeleton. The synthetic approaches to a variety of sesquiterpenes are discussed.