γ-Substituted butanolides from cyclopropane hemimalonates: an expedient synthesis of natural (R)-dodecan-4-olide.

Exploration into the reactivity of donor-acceptor cyclopropane hemimalonates has led to the facile synthesis of γ-substituted butanolides. Under microwave irradiation, cyclopropane hemimalonates undergo rapid conversion to butanolides in the presence of inorganic salts with an unprecedented retention of stereochemistry. This unique process has been applied to the total synthesis of the naturally occurring (R)-dodecan-4-olide.