Improved Synthesis of Three Brominated Analogues of the Potent Environmental Mutagen 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX)

The synthesis of three brominated analogues of the environmental mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), namely, 3-chloro-4-(bromochloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (BMX-1), 3-chloro-4-(dibromomethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (BMX-2) and 3-bromo-4-(dibromomethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (BMX-3), by employing a simple procedure from a common precursor, is described.