title: Carbonylation of cis-disubstituted epoxides to trans-β-lactones: catalysts displaying steric and contrasteric regioselectivity.
abstract: trans-β-Lactones are a versatile and useful class of compounds, but reliable methods for their direct synthesis are still limited. Addressing this problem, we present herein two catalysts for the regioselective carbonylation of cis-disubstituted epoxides. The two catalysts show high activities and opposing regioselectivities so that either one of the two possible β-lactone regioisomers can be obtained selectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulzer
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Coates