METHOD OF PREPARING SUBSTITUTED CYCLOHEXYLIDENE PROSTAGLANDINS

Procedure for the preparation of racemic and optically active compounds of the formula I **(See formula)** in which J stands for hydrogen or hydroxy; K stands for carbonyl or carbinol; L is ethylene or vinylene; Q is hydrogen, a non-toxic and pharmaceutically acceptable cation or lower alkyl; one of the symbols R1, R2 and R3 is C1-6 alkyl and the other two are hydrogen; both J and the hydroxy group can be in alpha or beta position, characterized in that it comprises reacting a compound of formula II **(See formula)** (where Q1 is alkyl; L has the same meaning as indicated above and J is hydrogen or hydroxy, which is protected in the form of an acetal or a trialkylsilyl ether) with a nucleophilic cuprate reactant of formula III **(See formula)** (Wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as indicated above; Rx is a suitable group substantially nontransferable in the enon system under the reaction conditions used, preferably an aliphatic alkyne, triphenoxide, tertiary butoxide, phenoxide, or a group of the formula IV **(See formula)** where R'means a group that can be easily cleaved under mild acidic or alkaline conditions), converting, if desired, an ester of the formula I thus obtained -in which Q is alkyl- into the corresponding free acid -in which Q it is hydrogen- or a non-toxic and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and, if desired, reducing a compound of formula I - where K is carbonyl - to the corresponding compound of formula I - where K is carbinol. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)