We describe a process similar to that shown in eq 1 which uses a lactone instead of the carboxylic acid. The product is a functionalized 2-oxazoline derivative. Thus, y-butyrolactone (4a), 6-valerolactone (4b), and e-caprolactone (4c), and the methylated derivatives of y- butyrolactone 4d and 4e react with 1 to give the respective 2-substituted 4, 4-dimethyl-2- oxazoline derivatives, 5a-e. t-Caprolactone reacted quantitatively, as determined by GC ...
