Regioselectivity of dimerisation of butenolides via captodative stabilised radicaloid intermediates

The regioselective outcome observed during dimerisation of butenolides to dimeric structures via captodative stabilised radicaloids has been studied. The captodative stabilised radicaloids were generated by initial conversion of butenolides to chlorobutenolides via the corresponding hydroxybutenolides, followed by treatment with CoCl(PPh3)3.