The stereoselective synthesis of unsaturated nine-membered lactones using the Malherbe–Bellus variant of the Claisen rearrangement
Abstract
The title reaction has been used to prepare nine-membered lactones commencing from 2-vinyltetrahydrofurans and dichloroketene; the resulting Δ5-dichlorolactones are exclusively trans but dechlorination using Bu3SnH–AlBN (azoisobutyronitrile) achieves concomitant isomerisation to give the cis-unsaturated lactones.