A stereoselective approach to optically active butenolides by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination reaction of α-hydroxy ketones

Di- and trisubstituted butenolides and tricyclic unsaturated lactones, of high enantiomeric excess were prepared via the efficient sequential esterification Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of enantiomerically enriched 2-hydroxy-substituted phenones and aromatic cyclic alpha-hydroxy ketones in good yield. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.