A new method for the synthesis of macrocyclic lactones, lactams, and ketones, which utilizes photoinduced intramolecular radical cyclization reactions of substrates containing tethered carboxylic acids and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moieties, has been uncovered. Photocyclization of the carboxylic acids tethered acrylate ester, which were prepared starting from the macrocyclic lactones, gave the two-carbon elongated macrocyclic lactones via decarboxylation. Similar photoreactions of carboxylic acid tethered acryl amide or α,β-unsaturated ketone moieties, which were also prepared starting from the macrocyclic lactones, produced macrocyclic lactams or ketones, respectively. The simple approach can be readily applied to the preparation of a variety of macrocyclic lactones, lactams, and ketones with tunable ring sizes.

A simple and efficient synthesis of 4-halo-3(2H)-furanones by halogenative intramolecular cyclization of sulfonium salts is described, which can expedite the production of a variety of 4-bromo- or 4-iodo-3(2H)-furanones, useful synthetic building blocks, in good to high yield under mild conditions.

The facile alkylative intramolecular cyclization of 3-alkoxycarbonyl-2-oxopropyldiphenylsulfonium salts is described. This simple method can be readily applied to the synthesis of a novel family of 4-alkylated 3(2H)-furanones in moderate to high yields under mild conditions via a one-pot process.

Base-induced intramolecular cyclization of novel (4-aryl-2,4-dioxobutyl)methylphenylsulfonium salts prepared from the commercially available 1arylethanone by a cost-effective process is described in this paper. The reaction was completed within 10 min to produce a family of 2-unsubstituted 5-aryl-3(2H)furanones in excellent yield. This procedure is simple, and can be carried out under mild conditions and an ambient atmosphere.

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