Substituted γ-lactones. Some observations on the synthesis and reactivity of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones

The reaction pathway towards formation of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones 1 from the base catalyzed reaction between an acetophenone, diethyl oxalate and formaldehyde was investigated. If methoxide was used as base, a transesterification was found to occur in the first step, while a side reaction, namely the retro Claisen reaction, was in competition with the desired lactone formation in the second step. The nature of the solvent and the acidic character of 1 as well as the basicity of the aminoarylene were found to have a profound influence on the course of the reaction of 1 with aminoarylenes.     

Kinetik und stereochemischer Verlauf der thermischen Umlagerung der vier stereoisomeren Propenyl-(but-2′-enyl)-äther

The gas-phase rearrangement of (1Z, 2′E)-, (1Z, 2′Z)-, (1E, 2′E)-, and (1E, 2′Z)- propenyl but-2′-enyl ether (Z, E)-, (Z, Z)-, (E, E)-, and (E, Z)-1) into erythro- and threo-2, 3-dimethyl-pent-4-en-al (erythro- and threo-2) was investigated over a temperature range from 142,5° to 190,0° at 20–35 Torr (for kinetic data and activation parameters see table 2). All four stereoisomeric ethers 1 rearrange preferentially via a chair-like transition state C into the aldehydes 2 (ΔΔG^≠ (160°) = 2,5–2,7 kcal/mol for B – C (B = boat-like transition state). The relative rates (k_rel) for (Z, Z)-1, (Z, E)-1, (E,Z)-1, and (E,E)-1 at 160° are 1,0, 2,9, 4,3 and 9,0 respectively (see table 5). Taking into account the relative enthalpies of the ethers 1 and the steric interaction in the C transition state of the ethers 1 (see table 6), k_rel values can be estimated. They are in good agreement with those observed (see table 5).