ABSTRACT
Prostaglandins (PGs) exert their biological effect by interacting with “receptors” which show a selectivity for compounds with a particular geometry. Thus, stereoselective chemical syntheses of PGs have been devised which introduce a particular configuration at each of the asymmetric centers. The most successful of these syntheses, which combines a high degree of stereocontrol with high yield, is the Corey cyclopentyl-lactone route. 1,2,3,4 In many cases these syntheses have been adapted to generate PG analogs, although sometimes the design of specific analogs has dictated the development of a new synthesis.
