Alkylation of (R)-5-(t-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (I) with ethyl 7-bromoheptanoate (II) affords the pyrrolidone-ester (III). After removal of the silyl protecting group of (III) with tetrabutylammonium fluoride, the resultant alcohol (IV) is oxidized to aldehyde (V) under modified Swern conditions, using DMSO/EDC
[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetic acid (VI) is coupled to N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine to produce the N-methoxy amide (VII). Subsequent condensation of methoxyamide (VII) with dimethyl methylphosphonate (VIII) in the presence of BuLi leads to the oxo phosphonate (IX). Horner-Emmons condensation of phosphonate (IX) with aldehyde (V) furnishes enone (X). Diastereoselective reduction of (X) by means of catecholborane in the presence of (R)-2-methyl-CBS-oxazaborolidine in cold CH2Cl2 provides the allylic alcohol (XI) as the major isomer. Subsequent catalytic hydrogenation of (XI) gives the saturated alcohol (XII). Finally, basic hydrolysis of the ethyl ester group of (XII) produces the target carboxylic acid