An improved synthesis of a ring-C precursor to cobyric acid

Abstract

Alkyne acid 10 was prepared in enantioselective fashion from allylic ester derivative (R)-18 via an E-selective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement followed by Si-assisted elimination of HBr. The present route offers significant advantages in terms of both scalability and overall yield compared to that previously described. Alkyne acid 10 is an attractive ring-C precursor for an ongoing synthesis of cobyric acid.