Synthesis and reactions of β-lactones

In contrast to -propiolactone and diketene, -trichloromethyl--propiolactone generally reacts with -amino heterocyclic nitrogen compounds to give amides of 3-hydroxy-4,4,4-trichlorobutyric acid (with the participation of the exocyclic and endocyclic nitrogen atoms of the reagents) rather than condensed heterocycles (pyrimidine derivatives). The reasons for the difference in the reactivities of the indicated -lactones are discussed.See [1] for communication XIV.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 260–265, February, 1972.