Thermolysis of alkylated 2-cyclohexenones and related monoterpenoid ketones

2-Cyclohexenone and three methylated cyclohexenones were thermolyzed at 400 °C for 20 hours to give conversions to products in the range 11 to 45%. When three monoterpenes containing the cyclohexenone moiety were thermolyzed under the same conditions the conversions were over 75%. The major products formed were alkylated benzenes, alkylated phenols, and double bond isomers of the starting enones. Mechanisms are proposed to account for these products.