Stereocontrolled Synthesis of (2R,3S)‐2‐Methylisocitrate,a Central Intermediate in the Methylcitrate Cycle

2‐Methylisocitrate (=3‐hydroxybutane‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylic acid) is an intermediate in the oxidation of propanoate to pyruvate (=2‐oxopropanoate) via the methylcitrate cycle in both bacteria and fungi (Scheme 1). Stereocontrolled syntheses of (2R,3S)‐ and (2S,3R)‐2‐methylisocitrate (98% e.e.) were achieved starting from (R)‐ and (S)‐lactic acid (=(2R)‐ and (2S)‐2‐hydroxypropanoic acid), respectively. The dispiroketal (6S,7S,15R)‐15‐methyl‐1,8,13,16‐tetraoxadispiro5.0.5.4]hexadecan‐14‐one ( 2a ) derived from (R)‐lactic acid was deprotonated with lithium diisopropylamide to give a carbanion that was condensed with diethyl fumarate (Scheme 3). The configuration of the adduct diethyl (2S)‐2‐(6S,7S,14R)‐14‐methyl‐15‐oxo‐1,8,13,16‐tetraoxadispiro5.0.5.4]hexadec‐14‐yl]butanedioate ( 3a ) was assigned by consideration of possible transition states for the fumarate condensation (cf. Scheme 2), and this was confirmed by a crystal‐structure analysis. The adduct was subjected to acid hydrolysis to afford the lactone 4a of (2R,3S)‐2‐methylisocitrate and hence (2R,3S)‐2‐methylisocitrate. Similarly, (S)‐lactic acid led to (2S,3R)‐2‐methylisocitrate. Comparison of 2‐methylisocitrate produced enzymatically with the synthetic enantiomers established that the biologically active isomer is (2R,3S)‐2‐methylisocitrate.