Studies on Plenolic Lactones

Part IV. Preparation of α-Exo-unsaturated-γ-butyrolactones

Abstract

α-Exo-unsaturated-γ-butyrolactones were prepared. Reduction of α-benzylidene succinic acid esters with lithium aluminum hydride afford 2-benzylidene-l, 4-butanediols. Manganese dioxide oxidation of glycols followed by silver oxide oxidation and lactonization afford α-benzylidene-γ-butyrolactones. Thus α-benzylidene-, α-anisylidene-, α-veratrylidene-, α-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzyli-dene)-β-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzyl)-γ-butyrolactone were synthesized.