Abstract Alkylation of various β-ketoesters IIIa-d with bis (p-methoxycarbonylphenyl) bromomethane (II) and bis (p-chlorophenyl) bromomethane (VI) followed by cleavage of ethoxycarbonyl group or hydrolysis and esterification gave methoxycarbonylphenyl and chlorophenyl analogues of ar-juvabione, respectively. Condensation of bis (p- methoxycarbonylphenyl) methanol (IX) with isovaleryl and trichloroacetyl chloride gave ...