Improved asymmetric syntheses of (R)-(−)-homocitrate and (2R,3S)-(−)-homoisocitrate, intermediates in the α-aminoadipate pathway of fungi

Improved asymmetric syntheses of the title compounds are reported. Both products are produced through diastereoselective alkylation of malic acid; (R)-homocitrate synthesis uses the self-regeneration of stereocenters approach. Both procedures represent an improvement in yield over existing methods without loss of stereoselectivity.