A green and facile route to gamma-and delta-lactones via efficient Pinner-cyclization of hydroxynitriles in water

摘要

In the presence of a recyclable cationic exchange resin hydroxynitriles smoothly undergo a Pinner cyclization/hydro-lysis two-step reaction in pure water to give lactones in good to excellent yields.Lactones are frequently occurring structural subunits in many biologically active natural products,for example natural flavors and pheromones.