The invention relates to a new and novel synthesis of prostaglandin E.sub.2, and it particularly relates to a novel process starting with relatively inexpensive starting materials. The invention further relates to a synthesis which is readily adaptable for large scale processing because of the high yields in the individual reaction steps. The invention further relates to novel compounds formed as intermediates in the synthesis of prostaglandin E.sub.2. The invention still further relates to synthetic analogs and known metabolites of prostaglandin E.sub.2 and prostaglandin E.sub.1, useful as standards in certain biological assays for determining prostaglandin-like activity.
