An Expedient Synthesis of Olfactory Lactones by Intramolecular Hydroacylalkoxylation Reactions

A series of 4,5-disubstituted γ-lactones, including whisky and cognac lactones, was synthesised in four steps from a readily available chiral precursor. By using an intramolecular hydroacylalkoxylation reaction in the final step, a correlation between the (E)/(Z) configuration of the precursor and the product distribution has been established, for the first time, in this type of cyclisation reactions.