Total Synthesis of Δ 12 ‐Prostaglandin J 3 , a Highly Potent and Selective Antileukemic Agent

A catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of the potent and selective antileukemic Δ 12 ‐prostaglandin J 3 (Δ 12 ‐PGJ 3 ) is described. The convergent synthesis proceeded through intermediates 2 and 3 , formed enantioselectively from readily available starting materials and coupled through an aldol reaction followed by dehydration to afford stereoselectively the cyclopentenone alkylidene structural motif of the molecule.