HELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, cilt.89, sa.6, ss.1231-1240, 2006 (SCI-Expanded)
We have investigated 1,5-electrocyclic ring-closure reactions of conjugated esters with dimethyl diazomalonate in the presence of [Cu(acac)(2)] as catalyst. Our new protocol offers an easy entry to various polyfunctionalized gamma-lactones in high yields. Their subsequent derivatives may be used as valuable intermediates, especially in the synthesis of natural products and their analogues.