Requirements for large-scale synthesis of the potent antitumor drug 10-deazaminopterin have led to development of a facile synthesis of this compound and its 10-alkyl analogues. The lithium diisopropyl amide generated dianions of appropriate p-alkylbenzoic acids were alkylated with 3-methoxyallyl chloride. The resulting 4-(p-carboxy-phenyl)-1-methoxy-1- butenes were brominated at pH 7-8 to afford the 2-bromo-4-(p-carboxyhenyl) ...