A novel and practical synthetic method of 3(2H)-furanone derivatives

A novel, convenient synthetic method of 5-atyl-2,2-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanones (aryl = C₆H₅, 2-CH₃C₆H₄, 3-CH₃C₆H₄, 4-CH₃C₆H₄, 2-CIC₆H₄, 4-CIC₆H₄, 2,4-Cl₂C₆H₃) is described. It involves the Claisen-Schmidt condensation (potassium hydroxide/ethanol) of aromatic aldehydes with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone to give enones, whose bromination followed by alkaline hydrolysis (sodium hydroxide/ethanol) affords 3(2H)-furanone derivatives in 54–64% overall yields. The procedure is also applicable to nicotinaldehyde and furfural, although the yields are not satisfactory.