An enantioselective solutions towards synthesizing “skip” 1,3 dimethyl stereocenters. A synthesis of 4S(2E,4R∗,6R∗)-4,6-Dimethyl-2-octenoic acid

A versatile method of synthesizing “skip” 1,3 dimethyl stereocenters via an enantioselective aldol reaction followed by stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation produces three syn contiguous chiral centers. Barton deoxygenation of the intermediary hydroxyl group provides the desired skip 1,3 dimethyl array.