Abstract
β-Phenyl-γ-butyrolactones (IIIa-j) bearing several substituents on the phenyl ring were synthesized. Deamination of 4-amino-3-(2, 4, 6-trimethylphenyl) butyric acid (IV) with nitrous acid gave rearranged compounds, β-(2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzyl)-β-propiolactone (V) and 3-hydroxy-4-(2, 4, 6-trimethylphenyl) butyric acid (VI) together with the required β-(2, 4, 6-trimethylphenyl)-γ-butyrolactone (IIIj). Reaction of 2-phenyloxirane derivatives (IXh-j) with sodium diethylmalonate was found to be a convenient method for the preparation of β-phenyl-γ-butyrolactones (IIIh-j) substituted with electron-donating group on the phenyl ring.
