dl-Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1 j (61) has been synthesized in 14 steps from 2-carboxy-5-oxo-1- cyclopenteneheptanoic acid (15). The synthesis required the development of two mild procedures and a new protecting group. A Moffatt oxidation using a water-soluble carbodiimide converted the carbinol 52 to aldehyde 53. The Wittig reaction of aldehyde 53 with the tributylphosphorane 36 was used to obtain the enone 54. Protection of the ...
