The reaction of photochemically generated α-hydroxyalkyl radicals with alkynes: a synthetic route to γ-butenolides

The photomediated generation of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals from simple acyclic and cyclic alcohols, and acyclic diols, and their subsequent carbon-carbon bond forming reaction with propiolate esters and acetylenedicarboxylates, gives a mixture of a β-(hydroxyalkyl)enoate, the result of a formal cis addition, and the unsaturated lactone (γ-butenolide) resulting from the spontaneous cyclization of the corresponding trans addition product. Treatment of the cis adduct with NBS converts it to the same lactone, and so the method overall constitutes a particularly direct route to this important structural unit. Cyclic alcohols give rise to spiro-γ-butenolides. The use of supported photomediators simplifies product isolation and allows for the recovery and reuse of the photomediator.