Process for the preparation of alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone and alpha-acetoxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone

摘要

This invention pertains to a process for making alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone by acid-catalyzed rearrangement of tetrahydro-3-furoic acid. In a further embodiment, when tetrahydro-3-furoic acid is treated with acetic anhydride and an acid catalyst, alpha-acetoxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone is produced in high yield. Under basic conditions, alpha-acetoxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone can readily formalpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone by the elimination of acetic acid. These reactions provide alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone by novel routes which do not require butyrolactone or formaldehyde.