Abstract 3, 5-Dichloro-6-ethyl-2, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (5, homodichloroorsellinic acid) is the polysubstituted aromatic carboxylic acid found in the macrolide antibiotic lipiarmycin A3. A convenient synthesis of the title compound from ethyl 2-pentenoate and ethyl acetoacetate is described (five steps, 41% overall yield).
