Alkylation, acetoacetic ester lactone

As will be seen in the following section the most widespread use of the alkylation of lactones is that of y-lactones. Clearly the need for a-substitution of y-lactones was present before the advent of Creger s non-nucleophilic base. The most versatile method was the reaction of a-substitutcd malonic or acetoacetic esters with epoxyethane or 2-chloroethanol, followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation or ketonic cleavage5. Another common approach was the condensation of butyrolactones (y-lactones) with aldehydes and subsequent hydrogenation5,s. It should be mentioned at this point that these older methods still have their merits, especially for large scale production. 

This sequence illustrates the use of enolates from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in Michael reactions they are useful too in alkylations, aldol condensations (Knoevenagel conditions), and reactions with epoxides, as in the synthesis3 of 20. Nowadays they tend to be used if they are readily available, or if the disconnections suggest their use, as in the building of 11 into 18. Examples include the diketone 11 and the six-membered equivalent both used in steroid synthesis, acetoacetates 16 and 19 and the keto-lactones 20, malonic acid 21 and its esters, "Meldrum s acid 22, a very enolisable malonate derivative,4 and the keto-ester 25 formed via its stable enolate 24, by the cyclisation of the diester 23, an intermediate in nylon manufacture. The compounds 11,16, 19, 20 R=H, 21, 22, and 25 are all available commercially. 

More complex products are obtained from cyclizations in which the oxidizable functionality and the alkene are present in the same molecule. y9-Keto esters have been used extensively for Mn(III)-based oxidative cyclizations and react with Mn(OAc)3 at room temperature or slightly above [4, 10, 11, 15], They may be cyclic or acyclic and may be a-unsubstituted or may contain an a-alkyl or chloro substituent. Cycloalkanones are formed if the unsaturated chain is attached to the ketone. y-Lactones are formed from allylic acetoacetates [10, 11]. Less acidic /3-keto amides have recently been used for the formation of lactams or cycloalkanones [37]. Malonic esters have also been widely used and form radicals at 60-80 °C. Cycloalkanes are formed if an unsaturated chain is attached to the a-position. y-Lactones are formed from allylic malonates [10, 11]. yff-Diketones have been used with some success for cyclizations to both alkenes and aromatic rings [10, 11]. Other acidic carbonyl compounds such as fi-keto acids, /3-keto sulfoxides, j8-keto sulfones, and P-nitro ketones have seen limited use [10, 11]. We have recently found that oxidative cyclizations of unsaturated ketones can be carried out in high yield in acetic acid at 80 °C if the ketone selectively enolizes to one side and the product cannot enolize... 

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