It was now necessary to introduce an acrylate ester moiety at
C2 of 22 and 23 in order to set the stage for the anticipated double RCM.
This objective was readily achieved in a straightforward two step sequence starting with 22 (Scheme 4).
Deprotonation of 22 with LDA followed by trapping the anion thus formed with methyl pyruvate provided the alcohol 24 as an inconsequential mixture of
diastereoisomers (drz1.4:1) in 60% yield (74% conversion based upon 26% recovery of starting 22).
Dehydration of 24 with MsCl and H€unig’s base furnished the desired tetraene 25 in 70% crude yield.
Unfortunately, tetraene 25 proved to be somewhat unstable and could not be purified to homogeneity by column chromatography.