Lactones y-lactone

Aldonolactones are commercially available at low cost, when compared to most of the common monosaccharides. They are typically synthesized by selective anomeric oxidation of unprotected aldoses with bromine [6]. Usually the thermodynamically more stable five-membered lactone (y-lactone) predominates over the six-membered form, with the exception of o-gluconolactone, which crystallizes as the 1,5-pyranolactone (5-lactone) [7] (Scheme 1). Another method for the preparation of sugar lactones is the dehydrogenation of unprotected or partially... 

Protection of y-lactones. y-Lactones can be converted in about 90%, yield into protected lactols by reduction with diisobulylaluminum hydride (1, 261 2, 140) followed by reaction with an alcohol in the presence of BFa etherate. Kegeneration of the lactone can be effected in high yield in one step by reaction with 1.1 cquiv. of m-chloroperbenzoic acid in CH2CI2 containing BF3 etherate. This regeneration step gives low yields of 8-lactones from S-lactols. 

Primary aleohols readily undergo etherification with either 8-lactone, y- lactone, or 5-hydroxy fatty acids. A5-Unsaturated fatty acids, however, do not undergo etherification under these reaction conditions, demonstrating the necessity of an oxy-... 

Aldonic acids spontaneously form five-membered (7) or six-membered (8) lactones. y-Lactones are normally more stable than 8-lactones. 

The carbonyl band of five-membered lactones (y-lactones) is in the range of 1735-1750 cm, while six-membered lactones (6-lactones) absorb in the range of 1760-1780 cm. Five-membered anhydrides show two CO bands at 1770 and 1844 cm, but six-membered anhydrides absorb at 1758 and 1790 cm. ... 

The main (key) components of chocolate aroma are Cj carboxylic acids with a sweet smell (2-methylbutyric), lactones (y-lactone with a sweet, peachy aroma), aldehydes (such as isovaleraldehyde with a sharp odour resembling malt), ( )-non-2-enal (with green and tallowy smell), (2 ,4 )-nona-2,4-dienal and (2 ,4 )-deca-2,4-dienal (with oily smell resembling fried foods), ketones, such as oct-l-en-3-one (with the mushroom-like smell), (2 ,5S)- and (2 ,5 )-5-methyl-hept-2-en-4-one (known as filbertone, which has the odour of hazelnuts, 8-204), 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine (with a smell reminiscent of fried potato chips), 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine (with the smell of nuts with earthy tones) and methyl 2-methyl-3-furyl disulfide with meaty and sulfur smell. 

By saccharic acid is usually meant D-gluco-saccharic acid, m.p. 125-126°C, obtained by the oxidation of glucose or starch. This exists in water solution in equilibrium with its two y lactones, both of which can be obtained crystalline, though the acid itself does not crystallize readily. 

As an example, let s analyse the synthesis of y-lactones (e.g. TM 334) and see how we may choose one of a number of strategies depending on the structure of the target molecule. We ll consider in turn each of the three C-C bond disconnections. The one with the most appeal is probably b complete the analysis for this approach. 

The y-lactone problem is made easier because the FGs are all based on oxygen. The molecule can therefore be disconnected without FGl except for oxidation or reduction. Let s now look at the synthesis of a molecule with a difficult FG the muscle relaxant baclofen TM 349. What is the difficult FG ... 

This synthesis was first carried out by VeUuz, Angew. Chem.. 1960, 72, 725. The lactone can be used instead of the y-cldoro acid, see Org. Synth. CoU.. 4, 898. Other approaches to A are outlined in J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1947, 576, 2936 and it is probable that the... 

Analysis This is a y-lactone and we spent time considering possible strategies for these compounds in fi ames 334-348. First open the lactone ring. This gives us a compound with 1,4- 1,5- and 1,6-dioxygenation relationships. FU follow the 1,6 through. 

Epoxides provide another useful a -synthon. Nucleophilic ring opening with dianions of carboxylic acids (P.L. Creger, 1972) leads to y-hydroxy carboxylic acids or y-lactones. Addition of imidoester anions to epoxides yields y-hydroxyaldehyde derivatives after reduction (H.W. Adickes, 1969). 

The regioselectivity of the addition of terminal alkynes to epoxides is improved, when the reagents prepared from the lithiated alkynes and either trifluoroborane or chlorodiethyl-aluminum arc employed (M. Yamaguchi, 1983 S. Danishefsky, 1976). (Ethoxyethynyl)lithium-trifluoroborane (1 1) is a convenient reagent for converting epoxides to y-lactones (M. Naka-tsuka, 1990 see p. 327f. cf. S. Danishefsky, 1976). 

The reductive coupling of aldehydes or ketones with 01, -unsaturated carboxylic esters by > 2 mol samarium(II) iodide (J.A. Soderquist, 1991) provides a convenient route to y-lactones (K. Otsubo, 1986). Intramolecular coupling of this type may produce trans-2-hy-droxycycloalkaneacetic esters with high stereoselectivity, if the educt is an ( )-isomer (E.J. Enholm, 1989 A, B). 

Indoles can also be alkylated by lactones[l4]. Base-catalysed reactions have been reported for (3-propiolactone[15], y-butyrolactone[10] and 5-valerolac-tone[10]. These reactions probably reflect the thermodynamic instability of the N -acylindole intermediate which would be formed by attack at the carbonyl group relative to reclosure to the lactone. The reversibility of the JV-acylation would permit the thermodynamically favourable N-alkylation to occur. 

The use of epoxides as alkylating agents for diethyl malonate provides a useful route to y lactones Wnte equations illustrating such a sequence for styrene oxide as the starting epoxide Is the lactone formed by this reaction 3 phenylbutanohde or is it 4 phenylbutanohde ... 

These trivial names are permitted -y-butyrolactone, -y-valerolactone, and 5-valerolactone. Names based on heterocycles may be used for all lactones. Thus, -y-butyrolactone is also tetrahydro-2-furanone or dihydro-2(3/f)-furanone. 

Rea.ctlons, Butyrolactone undergoes the reactions typical of y-lactones. Particularly characteristic are ring openings and reactions in which ring oxygen is replaced by another heteroatom. There is also marked reactivity of the hydrogen atoms alpha to the carbonyl group. 

P-Hydroxy acids lose water, especially in the presence of an acid catalyst, to give a,P-unsaturated acids, and frequendy P,y-unsaturated acids. P-Hydroxy acids do not form lactones readily because of the difficulty of four-membered ring formation. The simplest P-lactone, P-propiolactone, can be made from ketene and formaldehyde in the presence of methyl borate but not from P-hydroxypropionic acid. P-Propiolactone [57-57-8] is a usehil intermediate for organic synthesis but caution should be exercised when handling this lactone because it is a known carcinogen. 

Avermectins and Ivermectin. The avermectias are pentacycHc lactones isolated from fermentation products of Streptomjces avermitilis and ivermectin is a semisynthetic chemical, 22,23-dihydroavermectia (46). Ivermectin is effective in very low doses for the control of red spider mites on deciduous fmits, in baits for the control of imported fire ants, and as a parasiticide for Onchocerca volvulus in humans and for catde gmbs. These insecticides appear to function as agonists for the neuroinhibitory transmitter y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (see Antiparasitic agents, avermectins). 

Knoevenagel condensation of malonic acid with heptaldehyde [111-71-7] followed by ring closure, gives the fragrance y-nonanoic lactone [104-61-0] (6) (14). Beside organic synthesis, malonic acid can also be used as electrolyte additive for anodization of aluminum [7429-90-5] (15), or as additive in adhesive compositions (16). 

Other methods include ring opening of parasorbic acid [108-54-3] (5-lactone of 5-hydroxy-2-hexenoic acid) in hydrochloric acid or in alkaline solutions (43,44), the ring opening of y-vinyl- y-butyrolactone in various catalysts (45,46), or isomerization of 2,5-hexadienoic acid esters (47,48). Other methods are described in thehterature (6,49,50). 

Xyhtol also is obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of D-xylonic acid y-lactone (32) and from glucose by a series of transformations through diacetone glucose (46). 

Reaction with Lactones. Hydroxycarboxyhc acid ester complexes of titanium are formed by reaction of a tetraalkyl titanate with a lactone, such as P-propiolactone, y-butyrolactone, or valerolactone (35). For example. 

Ascorbic Acid [50-81-1] (1) is the name recognized by the lUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature for Vitamin C (1). Other names are L-ascorbic acid, L-xyloascorbic acid, and L-// fi (9-hex-2-enoic acid y-lactone. The name... 

The most significant chemical characteristic of L-ascorbic acid (1) is its oxidation to dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (L-// fi (9-2,3-hexodiulosonic acid y-lactone) (3) (Fig. 1). Vitamin C is a redox system containing at least three substances L-ascorbic acid, monodehydro-L-ascorbic acid, and dehydro-L-ascorbic acid. Dehydro-L-ascorbic acid and the intermediate product of the oxidation, the monodehydro-L-ascorbic acid free radical (2), have antiscorbutic activity equal to L-ascorbic acid. 

This synthesis was the first step toward industrial vitamin production, which began in 1936. The synthetic product was shown to have the same biological activity as the natural substance. It is reversibly oxidized in the body to dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (3) (L-// fi (9-2,3-hexodiulosonic acid y-lactone), a potent antiscorbutic agent with hiU vitamin activity. In 1937, Haworth and Szent-Gyn rgyi received the Nobel Prize for their work on vitamin C. 

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