A new method for the preparation of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxypicolinic acid, the acid moiety
of the fungicidally active natural product UK-2A is reported. In contrast to the two
previously reported routes to UK-2A acid, which start from 3-hydroxypyridine and furfural,
this novel synthesis applies maltol as inexpensive starting material and proceeds
via a unique modification of the Pummerer reaction.
Key words
UK-2A - fungicide - antifungal - synthesis - Pummerer reaction