a Merck Research Laboratories, PO Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065 U.S.A.
b Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 U.S.A.
Abstract:
The asymmetric syntheses of the C-1 sidechains of zaragozic acid A and C are described. Aldol reaction defines the chirality at C-4′and C-5′in two independent routes. Multigram preparation as well as a route amenable to derivatization are highlights of these approaches.