2-Acetylbutyrolactone


2-Acetylbutyrolactone is a derivative of γ-butyrolactone that is used as a precursor in organic synthesis, and it is used to identify primary amines through chemical fluorescence.

Preparation

2-Acetylbutyrolactone can be prepared by a condensation reaction between an ester of acetic acid with γ-butyrolactone in an alkaline solution.
2-Acetylbutyrolactone can also be prepared by reacting ethylene oxide with ethyl acetoacetate in alkaline conditions.

Uses

Spectrofluorimetry

2-Acetylbutyrolactone itself is only slightly fluorescent, but its derivatives show high UV fluorescence. The carbonyl group readily reacts with amines to form Schiff bases. It is for this reason that 2-acetylbutyrolactone is frequently used to confirm the creation of amines during organic synthesis. 2-Acetylbutyrolactone can also undergo a Japp–Klingemann reaction to form fluorescent molecules with arylamines.

Drug precursor

Uses of 2-Acetylbutyrolactone also includes synthesis of:
  1. Risperidone
  2. Ritanserin
  3. Paliperidone
  4. Ocaperidone
  5. Seganserin
  6. Setoperone
  7. Metrenperone
  8. Pirenperone
  9. Novoldiamine
  10. Clomethiazole
  11. Barmastine
  12. R 59-022
  13. ID-4708 .
  14. Santalene
  15. α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones.