Novel ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones from α-hydroxy acids and terminal alkynes via enol esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(93)83017-P

α-Hydroxy acids react with terminal alkynes, in the presence of binuclear ruthenium complexes 2 as catalyst precursors, to selectively afford either α-hydroxy enol esters or their cyclization products 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones.