Enol lactones Friedel-Crafts reaction

An extension of the Erlenmeyer synthesis is the condensation of acylamino acids with triethyl orthoformate which leads to the ethoxymethylene derivatives (297). These can be hydrolyzed to the corresponding enols, which in turn can be converted into chloromethylene compounds, e.g. (298). The lability of the chlorine atom in this compound (see arrows) can be put to good account reaction with organometallic compounds or with benzene and its derivatives under Friedel-Crafts conditions yields unsaturated lactones (298 aryl or heteroaryl in place of Cl). The method is especially valuable in cases where the aldehyde is not readily available. 

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