Co-reporter:Daniel R. Nicponski
Tetrahedron Letters 2014 Volume 55(Issue 13) pp:2075-2077
Publication Date(Web):26 March 2014
DOI:10.1016/j.tetlet.2014.02.024
The catalytic action of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) in lactonizing 4-hydroxy-2-methylenebutanoate esters to 2-methylene-γ-butyrolactones is described. The use of DMAP, which functions as an excellent complement to the more traditional acid-catalyzed lactonization protocol, allows for the synthesis of 2-methylene-γ-butyrolactones containing acid-sensitive groups under essentially neutral conditions.