2-Acetylbutyrolactone

2-Acetylbutyrolactone (ABL) 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 (such as ethyl acetate) 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 (alphabetical order):

1. Barmastine
2. Clomethiazole
3. ID-4708 [42048-72-6]
4. Metrenperone
5. Morocromen (Ex 35)
6. Novoldiamine (1-Diethylamino-4-aminopentane) [140-80-7]
7. Ocaperidone
8. Paliperidone
9. Pirenperone
10. Risperidone
11. Ritanserin
12. R 59-022 [93076-89-2]
13. Santalene
14. Seganserin
15. Setoperone
16. α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones.

References