A modified Prins reaction for the facile synthesis of structurally diverse substituted 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3,3-dihydrofurane-2(3H)-ones

Furanones are important synthetic intermediates commonly found in natural products, receptor ligands, and drug molecules. Unacceptable yields of substituted furanones obtained using a previously reported Prins reaction led to the development of a modified approach. Readily prepared substituted allylic esters were reacted under Prins reaction conditions catalyzed by a protic acid to provide structurally diverse substituted furanones in modest to good yields. The reaction goes through a protected caprolactone intermediate that was isolated and characterized for selected compounds. The approach supplies an efficient, versatile, and higher yield method for the synthesis of these important heterocyclic intermediates.