The first example of γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones: their generation from γ-tolylsulfinyl γ-lactones with isopropylmagnesium chloride, stability, and reaction with electrophiles

The treatment of γ-lactones having a sulfinyl group at the γ-position, which were synthesized from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with lithium enolate of carboxylic esters, with isopropyl magnesium chloride in THF at −78 °C gave γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones by the sulfoxide–magnesium exchange reaction in high yields. The generated γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones were found to be stable at below −50 °C for at least 2 h. The reaction of these γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones with electrophiles and the stereochemistry of the reactions were investigated.