Recent developments in the synthesis of prostaglandins and analogues

Recent developments in the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) and analogues were presented. Interesting and useful developments have been made by using new reagents and synthetic methodologies such as the metathesis reactions. Noteworthy also were the more systematic use of transition metal-mediated reactions, as well as enzymatic resolution methods. Development also included the synthesis of libraries of PGs by using a chemistry on support. In cyclopentenone PGs, syntheses involved cyclopentane derivatives as key intermediates and the use of retro-Diels Alder reactions. In the field of prostacyclin analogues, strategies have been introduced to obtain the desired optically active compounds by desymmetrization processes of key intermediates and to introduce efficiently the required ω-chain in the desired stereocenters. A large number of new analogues have been prepared for each series of Pgs in order to optimize biological activity.