Addition of methyllithium to 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzoic acid (I) at -78 C gave acetophenone (II). The Horner-Emmons condensation of acetophenone (II) with diethyl (cyanomethyl)phosphonate (III) resulted in a mixture of isomeric alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles (IV). After isolation of the major E-isomer by preparative TLC, cyano group reduction employing DIBAL in CH2Cl2 at -78 C provided aldehyde (V). This was subjected to a new Horner-Emmons condensation with phosphonate (VI) to provide the octatrienoate ester (VII). The target carboxylic acid was then prepared by saponification of ester (VII) with methanolic KOH.