Facile synthesis of caerulomycin E by the formation of 2,2′-bipyridine core via a 2-pyridyl substituted 4H-pyran-4-one. Formal synthesis of caerulomycin A

A new approach to caerulomycins A and E via a 6-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-4H-pyran-4-one is described. The pyranone precursor is prepared by Claisen condensation of acetylacetone enol ether with ethyl picolinate.