Beta-Propiolactone → 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)cyclopentan-1-ol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 1,4-dibromobutane (10 g, 46 mmol) in THF (100 mL) was treated with magnesium (2.81 g, 116 mmol) and I2 (100 mg). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours a solution of oxetan-2-one (3.34 g, 46.3 mmol) in THF (25 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours then quenched with saturated aqueous NH4Cl and extracted with isopropanol/CH2Cl2 (1:3) (2×100 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by distillation (95-100° C. at 0.6 Torr) to provide 1.1 g (18%) of the title compound. MS (DCI/NH3) m/z 148 (M+NH4)+.

Provenance & Evidence