BUTYROLACTONE-PREPARATION PROCESS

摘要

The invention concerns a process for preparing butyrolactones of general formula (I) in which substituents R<1> and R<2> stand for hydrogen, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or for aryl and trialkylsilyl groups optionally carrying inert substituents, an alkine of general formula (II), in which the substituents have the above meanings, being reacted with carbon monoxide CO and hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal catalyst or with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a transition metal catalyst at high pressure and high temperature in reducing conditions.