The present invention provides a new method for manufacturing a prostaglandin analogue having one or more keto groups on the 5-membered ring and/or omega chain, which comprises the step of treating a corresponding hydroxyl group containing compound with a co-oxidizer under the presence of a tetramethylpyperidine-
1
-oxyl derivative to form the desired prostaglandin analogue. The method of the invention can be carried out easily under relatively mild conditions.
Disclosed is a method for preparing a prostaglandin derivative of formula (A):
which comprises reacting an aldehyde represented by formula (1):
with a 2-oxoalkyl phosphonate in a reaction solvent under the presence of alkali hydroxide as sole base. By carrying out the reaction using an alkali hydroxide as sole base in the reaction system, the desired prostaglandin derivative can be obtained by simple procedures and with high yield.