Deoxy-nitrosugars, 7th communication Synthesis of methyl shikimate and of diethyl phosphashikimate from D-ribose

The chain elongation of the deoxy-nitroribose 6 by a Michael addition to the vinyl-phosphonate 7 followed by a solvolysis gave the heptulosephosphonate 11 (87%). From 11 , the key intermediates 15 and 16 (77%) were obtained by a highly diastereoselective reduction, followed by detritylation, periodate cleavage, and silylation. Methoxycarbonylation of 15 and 16 gave 17 and 18 which were converted into methyl shikimate ( 21 ; 79%) by intramolecular olefination and partial deprotection. Similarly, phosphonoylation of 16 gave 22 (99%) which was transformed into the diethyl phosphashikimate 2 (53% from 6).