New P-alkyl 2,3-oxaphosphabicyclo-[2.2.2]octene 3-oxides were synthesized by the Bayer–Villiger oxidation of the corresponding 7-phosphanorbornene 7-oxides and were used as precursors for reactive alkylmetaphosphonates useful in the phosphonylation of alcohols. This is the first case that the reactivity of the two regioisomers formed by O-insertion was differentiated and that the fragmentation-related
An improved method is described for making single isomers of synthetic benzoprostacyclin analogue compounds, in particular the pharmacologically active 314-d isomer of beraprost. In contrast to the prior art, the method is stereoselective and requires fewer steps than the known methods for making these compounds.