A Methodology for the Synthesis of Bioactive Butenolides

Butenolides are a class of lactones with a four-carbon heterocyclic ring structure that can be synthesized and derivatized with different R groups. The compounds show important biological activities such as antibacterial and antimicrobial. Candida infections, which are the most common types of yeast, show a 15 potential response to the butenolides chemical. The complications with using the butenolide chemicals is that many are not stable. The objective of this research is to be able to find a way to use and synthesize a compound of butenolides that is a potentially useful yeast infections treatment. Past research done by other students at Winona State University on butenolides suggested that ring-closing metathesis (RCM) could be employed in the future. This was bypassed by purchasing an⍺-angelica lactone and starting from this compound to continue the synthesis scheme. From the⍺-angelica lactone starting material five schemes were implemented to synthesize the butenolide to create a final testable product of C9H12O2. TLC and1H NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the reaction. The final C9H12O2 product will then be tested for bio activity