ACYLATION OF ANISOLE WITH METHYLSUCCINIC ANHYDRIDE CATALYZED BY ZEOLITES

The zeolite-catalysed acylation of anisole with methylsuccinic anhydri de gave mixture of products. The main component was is-(4-methoxypheny l)-2-methyl-gamma-butyrolactone, which was isolated in 25% yield; the expected keto acids were not formed. In the zeolite-catalysed reaction between 3-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-2-methylpropionic acid and anisole, the gamma-butyrolactone was isolated in 82% yield, indicating that the ini tially formed keto acid undergoes cyclisation to the lactone. When the se reactions were performed with a zeolite deactivated with triphenylp hosphine, the lactone was not formed, suggesting that acid sites on th e external surface of the zeolite catalyse these reactions.