In connection with another study, we required access to preparatively useful quantities of each of the title keto-esters 4 and 8. Both compounds have been described previo~ sly'-~ and the latter has been exploited'in a total synthesis of an ionone component found in fragrant oils extracted from a Himalayan plant. However, these previous approaches have suffered from a need to separate E-and Z-isomeric forms of appropriate precursors' or ...
