Although this rigorous synthesis presented a number of problems, all were solved. Alkylation of malonic ester (111) with methyl iodide produced IV, which was separated from unalkylated I11 by the excellent procedure of; 11ichaeL8 Following the procedure of Wallingford, Thorpe, and Homeyer,'IV was alkylated with isopropyl bromide, giving V. The acid (VI) and the alcohol (VII) were produced by relatively conventional procedures as ...
