Selective synthesis of natural and unnatural 5,6-disubstituted 2(2H)-pyranones via iodolactonization of 5-substituted (Z)-2-en-4-ynoic acids

Reaction of 5-substituted (Z)-2-en-4-ynoic acids with iodine and NaHCO3 in CH3CN or with ICl in CH2Cl2 affords mixtures of (E)-5-(1-iodoylidene)-2(5H)-furanones and 6-substituted 5-iodo-2(2H)-pyranones in which these last compounds are the major products. The 5-iodo-2(2H)-pyranones, which are easily separated chromatographically from the corresponding regioisomers, are able to undergo Stille-type reactions with a variety of organotin compounds to give 5,6-disubstituted 2(2H)-pyranones in moderate to good yields. One of these compounds, i.e. 5-(1-butynyl)-2(2H)-pyranone, has been used as direct precursor to two substances produced by fungal culture LL-11G219, which function as androgen ligands, i.e. (Z)-5-(1-butenyl)-6-methyl-2(2H)-pyranone and 5-butyl-6-methyl-2(2H)-pyranone.