Abstract
Synthesis of 5-oxo-(3S)-hydroxy-4,4-dimethylheptanoic acid (1), C1–C6 fragment of epothilone A, is described. Racemic tert-butyl 5-oxo-(3S)-acetoxy-4,4-dimethylheptanoate (5) was prepared by acylation of enamine followed by aldol condensation. Optical resolution of the heptanoate 5 was carried out by lipase catalyzed hydrolysis (yield 50%, > 98% e.e.).