Synthesis of substituted gamma-butyrolactones: beta-hydroxymethyl-, beta-methylene and cyclopropane derivatives

A beta-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone, which is a useful intermediate fo r the synthesis of several natural products with biological activity, was s ynthesized with good yield and a reduced number of steps from simple commer cially available starting materials. Model compounds of natural products co ntaining the unsaturated gamma-butyrolactone unit, such as butenolides and beta-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones, were also conveniently synthesized fro m this hydroxymethyl-lactone.