Versatile Copper-Catalyzed γ-C(sp³)–H Lactonization of Aliphatic Acids

Site-selective C(sp3)–H oxidation is of great importance in organic synthesis and drug discovery. γ-C(sp3)–H lactonization of free carboxylic acids provides the most straightforward means to prepare biologically important lactone scaffolds from abundant and inexpensive carboxylic acids; however, a versatile catalyst for this transformation with a broad substrate scope remains elusive. Herein, we report a simple yet broadly applicable and scalable γ-lactonization reaction of free aliphatic acids enabled by a copper catalyst in combination with inexpensive Selectfluor as the oxidant. This lactonization reaction exhibits compatibility with tertiary, benzylic, allylic, methylene, and primary γ-C–H bonds, affording access to a wide range of structurally diverse lactones such as spiro, fused, and bridged lactones. Notably, exclusive γ-methylene C–H lactonization of cycloalkane carboxylic acids and cycloalkane acetic acids was observed, giving either fused or bridged γ-lactones that are difficult to access by other methods. δ-C–H lactonization was only favored in the presence of tertiary δ-C–H bonds. The synthetic utility of this methodology was demonstrated by the late-stage functionalization of amino acids, drug molecules, and natural products, as well as a two-step total synthesis of (iso)mintlactones (the shortest synthesis reported to date).