U 0800 Lignans. Part 18. Total Synthesis and Confirmation of the Structure 11 - 288 of Megacerotonic Acid. — The key steps in the total synthesis of the title compound (X) are the Stobbe condensation of diester (V) with p-anisaldehyde (VI) and the regioselective hydroxylation of (VII). — (BROWN, E.; DHAL, R.; PAPIN, N.; Tetrahedron 51 (1995) 47, 13061-13072; CNRS, Fac. Sci., F-72017 Le Mans, Fr.; FR)