Wittig reaction of 4-benzyloxybutanal (1) with the ylide derived from treatment of 7- carboxyheptyltriphenylphos-phonium bromide with sodio methylsulfinylmethide in dimethyl sulfoxide afforded (2)-12-benzyloxy-8-dodecenoic acid (2) in 87% yield. Reduction of benzyl ether 2 with sodium in liquid ammonia-tetrahydrofuran, followed by esterification, provided a 74% yield of methyl (2)-12-hydroxy-8-dodecenoate (4). None of the E isomer was ...
