ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 40, Number 11
JKCSEZ 40(11)
October 20, 1996 

A synthesis of the oxazole skeleton of discokiolide B, represented by discokiic acid 1, is described. Aldol condensation of 2[2'-(4-phenyl-3-butenyl)]-1,3-oxazole 4-carboxaldehyde(4a) with lithium enolate of methyl propionate provided the discokiic acid methyl ester. The key intermediate 2[2'-(4-phenyl-3-butenyl)]-1,3-oxazole-4-carboxaldehyde (4a) has been synthesized from the rhodium-catalyzed cycloaddition of diazomalonaldehyde with nitrile. The relative stereochemistry of the 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate unit of discokiic acid was assigned on the basis of 1H and 13C NMR data.