The Potential of β-Hydroxy-γ-vinyl-γ-lactone in the Synthesis of Natural Products and Beyond

In this mini-review, we have abstracted the syntheses of beta-hydroxy-gamma-vinyl-gamma-lactone and the different tactics and strategies adopted using this important building block in the synthesis of various natural products. Apart from this, the lactone in having a strategic vinyl bond was contemplated as allyl donor in Pd-catalyzed allylic arylation and also in a cascade Prins-Ritter reaction. This building block was visualized to be a desymmetrized 3,4-dihydroxy-hexyl unit providing orthogonal functional groups for various useful transformations. The active alpha-position is available for alkylation, the gamma-vinyl bond, the lactone carbonyl and the beta-hydroxy groups add value to this building block for various possible conversions to natural products and beyond.