An expedient synthesis of 3-arylmethylbutenolides from α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones: a useful synthetic application of palladium-catalyzed chelation-controlled oxidative arylation protocol

A palladium-catalyzed chelation-controlled oxidative arylation of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones with arenes provided 3-arylmethylbutenolides as major products along with a low yield of α-arylidene-γ-butyrolactones. The selectivity might be due to a chelation between the palladium center and a directing group at the γ-position of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones.