| abstract |
Production of carboxylic acids, lactones and diols. Compounds, of formulae:- C=C, CR'R''Y; are prepd. by bringing a halo-compound XCR'R''Y or epoxide in contact with an olefine compound in the presence of the reduced form of a metal capable of participating in electron-transfer redox reactions (where R'R''=H or substituent; X=halogen, pref. Cl or Br; Y=H or substituent; m=integer). Long-chain products are useful chemical intermediates; particularly, butyrolactone is useful for N-methyl-pyrolidone production. |