Manynaturalproductscontainγ-lactonemoieties.Forexample,β-methyl-γ-butyl-γ-lactones(quercuslactones)aregradientsofagedwhiskey,andβ-methyl-γ-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-γ-lactone(eldanolide)isapheromoneoftheAfricansugarcaneborer.Wesynthesizedsuchγ-lactonesbyhydrolysesofthehomoallylicalcoholsobtainedbyadditionofaldehydestotheallylicanionsgeneratedfromketenedithioacetalsor2-propenyl-1,3-dithiane.
