Synthetic studies relevant to biosynthetic research on vitamin B12. Part 7. Synthesis of (±)-bonellin dimethyl ester

Abstract
The dimethyl ester of the green marine pigment, bonellin, has been synthesized in racemic form by a rational photochemical route. The two propionate residues of this biologically active pigment have been introduced synthetically in differentiated form which opens the way to the synthesis of the naturally occurring amino acid derivatives of bonellin.