Diethylamine addition to natural sesquiterpenic α-exomethylene-γ-lactones and its use for chemical transformations of these compounds

Abstract

Addition of diethylamine to exomethylene double bond in natural sesquiterpenic α-methylene-γ-lactones is more advantageous in structural studies than the addition of other amines used so far. In some instances a simultaneous solvolysis of the ester groups also takes place. This fact was made use of for selective deacylation. The possibility of solvolysis impairs the potential use of diethylamine and other amines for the isolations of α-methylene-γ-lactone fractions directly from the extract of natural material.