Chiral economic total synthesis of natural and unnatural prostaglandins]

Using a meso-compound which is asymmetrically substituted with a chiral moiety as an intermediate, prostaglandins have been synthesized. Since the undesired enantiomer is readily recycled, this approach leads to a synthesis with high chiral efficiency. In addition it is possible to prepare both enantiomeric configurations of prostaglandins by simply altering the sequence of reactions. This concept should be generally useful in the synthesis of optically active molecules.