A new oxidativesubstitutionreaction where an organotin group is replaced by an acetoxy group has been investigated; this reaction has been successfully applied to the synthesis of 4-ylidenebutenolides.
5-Substituted 2-tributylstannylfurans which were synthesized by the reaction of corresponding 5-substituted 2-lithiofurans with tributylstannyl chloride, were treated with two equimolar amounts of lead tetraacetate at room temperature to give corresponding 5-substituted 5-acetoxy-2(5H)-furanones in good yields. The 5-acetoxy-2(5H)-furanone was heated at 80 °C in acetic acid-acetic anhydride containing