Metal-Free Synthetic Strategy for the Construction of β-Arylthio-γ-butyrolactones

Xiaoping Wang, Zishan Xu, Jiarui Huang, Wenhao Xu, Zhiyu Cao, Zhibin Huang(黄志斌)*, and Yingsheng Zhao(赵应声)*

Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China

Org. Lett. 2026, 28, 8535–8540

Abstract: γ-Butyrolactone (GBL) is an important structural motif commonly found in a wide range of natural products, bioactive molecules, agrochemicals, and fragrance compounds. In this study, a Lewis acid-assisted approach was developed to prepare β-arylthio-γ-butyrolactone skeletons using benzenesulfonyl chloride as a sulfur source. This approach requires no transition metal catalysts and provides several advantages, including mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional group compatibility.

Article information: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.6c02467