Most of the primary prostaglandins and several biologically important prostaglandin analogues were converted to 1, 9-, 1, ll-or 1, 15-lactones, in order to investigate the biological profiles of these internal esters and to assess their potential as prodrugs for the corresponding open-chain hydroxy acids. In each case, the key lactonization step was done using Corey's “double activation” procedure (cyclization of w-hydroxy-2-pyridinethiol ...