Highly stereoselective synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-chloro-substituted-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone by possibly controlling cis- and trans-chloropalladation.

A palladium-catalyzed selective synthesis of cis- or trans-chloro-substituted-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones from single substrate (propiolic acid) has been realized by controlling cis- or trans-chloropalladation. This method is highly effective for building C-Cl, C-O, and C-C bonds into a one-pot procedure because of its good atom and step efficiency.