Organic solvent- and catalyst-free Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of levoglucosenone and dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene®): a sustainable route to (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-α,β-butenolide and (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-γ-butyrolactone

Abstract

A straightforward and sustainable route to (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-α,β-butenolide (HBO) and (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-α,β-butyrolactone (2H-HBO), two valuable chemical platforms for the synthesis of fine chemicals such as drugs, pheromones, flavors and fragrances, has been optimized using renewable cellulose-based levoglucosenone (LGO) and Cyrene® as starting materials and aqueous H₂O₂ as both a solvent and an oxidizing agent. Combined with short-path distillation, this procedure provides enantiopure HBO and 2H-HBO in yield as high as 72% at the kilo scale.