Various (+/-)-3-aryl-delta-lactones have been prepared from the corresponding arylacetic acids. The lithium dianion of the acid is alkylated with 1-bromo-3-chloropropane and the unpurified product is cyclized with DBU in typically ca. 80% yield over both steps. We have shown that lactones of this type can be converted to their corresponding 5,6-dihydropyan-2-ones and pyran-2-ones, which potentially provide useful sites for further functionalization of the lactone ring. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
SmI2-mediated reductive cleavage of α-hetero substituents of α-alkyl or α-aryl ketones and lactone gave the corresponding “thermodynamic samarium enolates”. Enantioselective protonation of the samarium enolates with C2-symmetric chiral diols afforded the corresponding ketones and lactone in moderate to high enantioselectivities.