The present invention provides an industrially very advantageous process for producing prostaglandins E1 with fewer steps and in higher yield. The process comprises reacting a 7-hydroxyprostaglandin E with a reactive derivative of an organic sulfonic acid in the presence of a basic compound to form the corresponding 7-organic sulfonyloxyprostaglandin E, treating the resulting 7-organic sulfonyloxyprostaglandin E, after or without isolation, in the presence of a basic compound to form a DELTA 7 -prostaglandin E, thereafter selectively reducing the carbon-carbon unsaturated bond existing on the alpha -chain. Some of the 7-hydroxyprostaglandins E and DELTA 7-prostaglandins E used in the process are novel compounds.
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