Synthesis of substituted butenolides by the ring closing metathesis of two electron deficient olefins: a general route to the natural products of paraconic acids class

A variety of allyl acrylates possessing electron-withdrawing groups undergo RCM using the second generation Grubbs’ catalyst in the presence of a Lewis acid resulting in diverse butenolides in high isolated yields. This methodology provides a general route to the natural products of paraconic acids class, exemplified by a total synthesis of (±)-phaseolinic acid.