(+)- and (-)-Phaseolinic acid (1) have been prepared in an enantiosele
ctive fashion from acetylenic acid 26 (or ent-26) by a three step sequ
ence involving lactonization, epimerization at Cg, and oxidative cleav
age. 26 was obtained as a single enantiomer using a Nicholas-Schreiber
reaction. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd