GENERAL METHOD: Ester compounds 2a, c-f, i-1, o-p, w (1.35 mmol, 1.0 eq.) were dissolved in dioxane (at a concentration of 0.15 mmol/mL), followed by the addition of 5 M aqueous NaOH (10.0 eq.). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was acidified, extracted with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), the organic phase was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), and finally concentrated under vacuum to give carboxylic acid analogs 3a, c-f, i-1, o-p, and w as solids.