Notestracted with an ether-hexane mixture (3:1) and the combined extracts were dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Preparative thin layer chromatography on silica gel afforded 165 mg (52%) of pure (±)-or-turmerone (1): rmax (CHClj) 1685 (0=0), 1620 (C=CH-), 1515 (-C,Hi-). 819 cm'1 (p-C6H4-); nmr (CCI4) 7.00 (s, 4 H, p-CHsCeHj-), 5.90 [m, 1 H, -CH=C(CH3)2], 3.20 [m, 1 H, C,H,CH(CH3)-], 2.50 (m, 2 H, -CH2C0-), 2.25 (s, 3 H, p-CH3C6H6-), 2.08 [s, 3 H, ~COCH=C(CH3)2, methyl cis to carbonyl], 1.81 [s, 3 H, -COCH=C(CH3)2, methyl trans to carbonyl], 1.20 [d, 3 , , , ^)-]; mje 216. The analytical sample was obtained as a colorless oil by preparative tie followed by molecular distillation, bp (bath) 90°( 0.07 mm).