Studies on Antiviral Agents. III. Synthesis of Tenuazonic Acid Derivatives.

Abstract
Tenuazonic acid derivatives were synthesized from amino acid esters by N-acetoacetylation with diketene followed by cyclization with sodium alkoxides. Some L-amino acid produced a small amount of DL-compounds in this process. N-Acetoacetyl group of diethyl aspartate cyclized to the [alpha]-ester group to form 5-membered ring compound selectively. These compounds were condensed with carbonyl reagents.