The condensation of 5-[4-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)phenyl]-2-methyl-3-pentanone (I) with tert-butylacetate (II) by means of LDA in THF, followed by hydrolysis of the ether with LiOH gives the racemic 3-hydroxypentanoic acid (III), which is submitted to optical resolution with (S)-alpha-methylbenzylamine affording the (S)-enantiomer (IV). The condensation of (IV) with the magnesium salt of monoethyl malonate (V) affords the beta-keto ester (VI), which is cyclized by means of NaOH to provide the dihydropyrone (VII). The condensation of (VII) with thiosulfonate (VIII) by means of K2CO3 in DMF yields the expected thioether (IX), which is finally treated with NaOH in DMSO/water to eliminate the tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group.
The hydrolysis of the ketoester (I) with NaOH gives the corresponding ketoacid (II), which is condensed with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (III) by means of pyridine to yield the hydroxyketone (IV). The reaction of (IV) with acetic anhydride and pyridine affords the acetoxy compound (V), which is dehydrated by means of hot pyridine to provide the enone (VI). The condensation of (VI) with benzyl acetate (VII) by means of LDA gives 3-hydroxy-3-isopropyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-4-pentenoic acid benzyl ester (VIII), which is fully hydrogenated with H2 over Pd(OH)2 to yield the amino acid (IX). Finally, (IX) is treated with acetic anhydride to afford the target 5-(4-acetamidophenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-isopropylpentanoic acid intermediate (X).