The palladium-tributylammonium formate reagent in the stereoselective hydrogenation, and stereo- and regioselective hydroarylation of alkyl 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates: a route to substituted butenolides

Abstract The reaction of aryl iodides with alkyl 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates in the presence of formic acid, tri-n-butylamine and a palladium(II) catalyst provides a convenient route to functionalized substituted butenolides through a one pot hydroarylation/cyclization reaction. In the presence of formic acid, tri-n-butylamine and a palladium(II) catalyst, alkyl 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates undergo a one pot hydrogenation/cyclization reaction to the butenolide ring. By increasing the excess of formic acid, direct formation of saturated γ-lactones can be observed. Reactions occur with high stereoselectivity and, in the case of the hydroarylation, with good regioselectivity.