November 16, 1976

Racemic or optically-active prostaglandin E.sub.1 is synthesized from racemic or optically-active precursors in good yield at the various steps from 3.alpha., 6,7,7.alpha.-tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-oxo-1.beta.-indaneheptanoic acid methyl ester proceeding through 2.alpha.-(2-carboxyethyl)-3.beta.-hydroxy-5-oxo-1.beta.-cyclopentaneheptan oic acid methyl ester, .delta.-lactone, 5-cyclic ethylene acetal, 2.alpha.-(2-carboxy-2-formylethyl)-3.beta.-hydroxy-5-oxo-1.beta.-cyclopent aneheptanoic acid methyl ester, .delta.-lactone, 5-cyclic ethylene acetal, 2.alpha.-(2-carboxy-2-oxoethyl)-3.beta.-hydroxy-5-oxo-1.beta.-cyclopentane heptanoic acid methyl ester, .delta.-lactone, 5-cyclic ethylene acetal, and 3.beta.-hydroxy-2.alpha.-(3-oxo-1-octenyl)-5-oxo-1.beta.-cyclopentanehepta noic acid methyl ester, 5-cyclic ethylene acetal.

3

November 16, 1976

05/575,762

May 8, 1975

549/342  

C07C   405/00   (20060101)  

This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 435,812, filed Jan. 23, 1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,994, issued Oct. 28, 1975; which in turn is a division of U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 201,979, filed Nov. 24, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,612, issued Sept. 3, 1974.

260/34.9P