Patent ID: 8481758

Claim:
A process for preparing a prostaglandin or prostaglandin analog comprising: reducing a compound of the formula (I) under transfer hydrogenation conditions to obtain a compound of the formula (II) wherein W represents a substituent selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 7 -C 16 aralkyl, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, halo and CF 3 , and (CH 2 ) n OR a , wherein n is from 1 to 3 and R a represents a C 6 -C 10 aryl group, which is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, halo and CF 3 ; and wherein R 6 represents H or R 2 with R 2 comprising a hydroxyl protecting group; and wherein the reduction of a compound of formula (I) under transfer hydrogenation conditions comprises contacting the compound with a hydrogen-donor selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid derivatives, alcohols, dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of Raney nickel and noble metal catalysts selected from the group consisting of rhodium, palladium, and platinum.