A Rapid Protocol to Synthesize γ-Butyrolactone Derivatives via the Microwave Technique

This work reports the synthesis of several 3-methoxycarbonyl-γ-butyrolactone derivatives (4-12) starting from dimethyl itaconate (1), an aryl bromide (2), and a carbonyl compound (3). The synthetic protocol used microwave irradiation, argon atmosphere, and acetonitrile as solvent. The synthesis furnished the target compounds in 80-96% yield; reactions lasted about 10-20 min.