17-Hydroxyheptadecanoic lactone

The reaction illustrates a typical example of the preparation of macrolides. Lactones with more than 12 members can be obtained in even better yields. For example, 15-hydroxypentadecanoic lactone (m.p. 35-37°) and 17-hydroxyheptadecanoic lactone (m.p. 40-41°) were prepared by the submitters in about 95% yield in a practically pure form, with no trace of the corresponding dilactones. 

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