| abstract |
To produce a prostaglandin E in a short time and in a high yield while minimizing the formation of isomers. A process for producing a prostaglandin E represented by general formula (I) wherein A represents an arbitrary group not participating in the reaction; B represents vinylene or ethynylene; R<4> and R<5> may be the same or different from each other and each represents hydrogen or a protective group for a hydroxyl group; and R<6> and R<7> represent each an arbitrary group not participating in the reaction, which comprises reacting an allyl ester of a prostaglandin E represented by general formula (II) wherein R<1> and R<2> may be the same or different from each other and each represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; R<3> represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, alkenyl or aryl; and R<4>, R<5>, R<6>, R<7>, A and B are each as defined above, with one or two compounds selected from the group consisting of bases and formic acid in the presence of a complex compound or a complex salt of 0-valent or divalent palladium atom. <CHEM> |