Iso-a-curcumene (I, R = R1 = H, R2R3 = CH2) and its derivatives I (RR1 = bond, R2R3 = CH2, R2 = Me, R3 = OH; R = R1 = H, R2 = Me, R3 = OH) were prepared The intermediate enone I (RR1 = bond, R2R3 = O) was synthesized from 4-MeC6H4COMe with CH2:CHMgBr followed by Carroll reaction with MeCOCH2CO2Et. Hydrogenation of I (RR1 = bond, R2R3 = O) led to I (R, R1 = O). Wittig reaction of these compounds with Ph3P=CH2 and Grignard reaction with Me3MgI gave rise to I (RR1 = bond; R, R1 = H; R2R3 = CH2; R2 = Me, R3 = OH).

Key words: SESQUITERPENE, ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROGRAPHY, NMR SPECTROMETRY, HEPTANOL P, CURCUMA AROMATICA, CURCUMENE