Inventors:
Rutger Puts - Wilmington DE, US
Charles Brandenburg - Wilmington DE, US
Kenneth Tarburton - Wilmington DE, US
International Classification:
C07D305/12, C 07D 4 7/02
Abstract:
This invention pertains to a process for making -methylenelactones and -substituted hydrocarbylidene lactones. More specifically, the present invention obtains high yields of -methylene--butyrolactone by heating -butyrolactone and diethyl oxalate in the presence of a base. The second step comprises treatment of the -oxalyl enolate salt with formaldehyde to afford the -methylene--butyrolactone.