Chiral 2-substituted-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one

Abstract

A method for stereospecifically preparing chiral 2-substituted-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one which comprises asymmetrically reducing 2-substituted cyclopentane-1,3,4-trione to the corresponding 2-substituted-4(R)-hydroxy-cyclopentane-1,3-dione, enolizing the said dione to obtain the enol ester or enol ether configuration, reducing the enol ester or ether and recovering the desired compound. The chiral 2-substituted-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one are key intermediates in the preparation of prostaglandins.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.