Synthesis of Substituted γ-Butyrolactones: β-Hydroxymethyl-, β-Methylene and Cyclopropane Derivatives

A β-hydroxymethyl-γ-butyrolactone, which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of several natural products with biological activity, was synthesized with good yield and a reduced number of steps from simple commercially available starting materials. Model compounds of natural products containing the unsaturated γ-butyrolactone unit, such as butenolides and β-methylene-γ-butyrolactones, were also conveniently synthesized from this hydroxymethyl-lactone.