A concise synthesis of substituted benzoates

Abstract

Cycloaromatization, via tandem cycloaddition -extrusion of carbon dioxide, between methyl isodehydroacetate or methyl coumalate and a variety of alkyne dienophiles has been investigated. This method provides an efficient synthesis of methyl 4-hydroxymethyl-2,6dimethylbenzoate (1), a key intermediate in the preparation of retinal-based molecular probes.