The reactivity of the title compounds with different nucleophiles has been checked and it was shown that products from reaction with sodium phenylthiolate result from an elimination-addition process in which protoanemonin is the key intermediate. The synthesis of (−)-(R)-β-angelica lactone is reported for the first time.
A short synthesis of the title compound, 16, from d-ribonolactone is described. Two alternative approaches differing in the timing of the CC double bond creation are used to prepare some chiral derivatives of 16. (−)-Ranunculin, a glycoside present in Ranunculaceae, has been synthesized for the first time.