A New Synthesis of UK-2A Acid Facilitated by a Triple Chloro-Pummerer Activation

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.