A Facile and Convenient Synthesis of (±)-Biotin via MgCl2/Et3N-Mediated C–C Coupling and Mitsunobu Reaction

A synthesis of (±)-biotin is described starting from simple starting materials viz. cyclohexanone and amino malonic acid ester. The key steps involved are MgCl 2 /Et 3 N coupling of amino malonic acid ester derivative and acid chloride, Mitsunobu reaction, ozonolysis, Staudinger reduction, novel urea formation, and subsequent dibenzylation. This approach is economical and involves high-yielding steps and simple reaction conditions.