Simplistic expedient and practical synthesis of (±)-α-lipoic acid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-2005-861867

Synthesis of α-lipoic acid has been achieved by a simple sequence of reactions. The synthesis highlights the use of α-chloroesters in a Reformatsky reaction. The intermediate keto acid is an intermediate from which both isomers of lipoic acid can be prepared. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart.