A Synthesis of 4-Oxo Carboxylic Acids, 4-Oxo Aldehydes, and 1,4-Diketones from γ-Lactones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00361a019

The α-methyldiphenylsilyl derivatives of γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, and the cis lactone of 2-hydroxycyclohexaneacetic acid have been reacted with Grignard reagents.The α-silylated lactones of γ-butyrolactone and γ-valerolactone react with a single equivalent of Grignard reagent to give a 2-substituted 4,5-dihydrofuran, which can be hydrolyzed and oxidized to 4-oxo carboxylic acids, 1,4-diketones, or 4-oxo aldehydes.The α-silylated fused lactone failed to react with ethylmagnesium bromide in refluxing tetrahydrofuran.An X-ray crystal structure of this silylated lactone indicated that this lack of reactivity is due to steric factors.