Indium-promoted preparation of substituted α-methylene-γ-lactones from 2-(bromomethyl)acrylic acid and carbonyl compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)00554-1

The reaction of 2-(bromomethyl)acrylic acid (1) with different carbonyl compounds (2) [CH₂0, (E)-CH₃CH=CHCHO, Pr(i)CHO, Bu(t)CHO, PhCHO, CH₃(CH₂)₅CHO, c-C₆H₁₁CHO, Ph₂CHCHO, (CH₂)₅CO] and indium powder in a 1:1 THF:H₂0 mixture at room temperature affords, after acidic work-up with hydrochloric acid, the corresponding α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones 3.