Efficient Synthesis of Optically Pure Macrocyclic Polylactones from Castor Oil and Sulfurous and Sebacic Acid Dichlorides

Abstract

An effective synthesis of optically pure macrocyclic polylactones is developed, involving the [1+1] condensation of a natural triol (castor oil) with thionyl chloride in carbon tetrachloride in the presence of DMF as a base and (N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine as a catalyst and followed by the [1+1] condensation of the resulting macrocyclic alcohol with sebacoyl chloride under similar conditions.