New transformations of 3-acetyl-5-(alkoxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-ones

Alkylation of 3-acetyl-5-(alkoxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-ones gave 3-acetyl-5-(alkoxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-ones containing various substituents in position 3 of the heterocycle. Bromination of the latter afforded 3-(bromoacetyl) derivatives which reacted with various nucleophiles to produce derivatives containing benzimidazole, 2-amino-1,3-thiazole, 3-chloropyridine, and 3,5-dibromopyridine fragments together with the butanolide ring.