Butenolide synthesis via carbonylation of vinylmercurials in the presence of inorganic salts

摘要

Compounds containing the butenolide ring have a wide variety of chemical uses. The invention is an improved method of synthesizing &bgr;- halobutenolides which are valuable intermediates in preparing a variety of butenolide ring containing compounds. The method comprises reacting an acetylenic alcohol with a mercuric halide to provide a vinylmercuric halide and carbonylating the vinylmercuric halide in the presence of a basic inorganic salt to provide a &bgr;-halobutenolide.