A three-step synthesis of (2Z), (4E)-polyenic acids 6 is described. Condensation of aldehydes 1 with potassium prenal enolate led to dihydropyranols 3 which were oxidized into dihydropyrones 5, precursors of (2Z), (4E)-polyenic acids 6. The procedure was applied to a synthesis of 13-cis-retinoic acids from beta-ionylidene acetaldehydes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Regioselective addition of the prenal potassium dienolate onto α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. A short access to polyenaldehydes
The potassium dienolate of prenal obtained by treatment of the corresponding dienoxysilane with tBuOK was reacted with enaldehydes. In all cases a gamma-specific reaction occurs. According to the reaction conditions gamma;1,2 or a gamma;1,4 coupled product was selectively obtained with enals. The gamma;1,2 reaction provided an efficient prenylation procedure. A short two-step synthesis of retinal is described. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.