Stereo-controlled synthesis of dl-prostaglandins F2.alpha. and E2

A new approach to the synthesis of prostaglandins, designed with the following objectives in mind, is reported. The objectives were: 1) control of stereochemistry; 2) the synthesis of all of the primary prostaglandins and a variety of analogs from a single precursor; and 3) optical resolution at an early stage. The fifteenth synthesis step yielded dl-prostaglandin F2 alpha identical to the natural hormone. Step by step routes of synthesis and stereochemistry are depicted in the text.