Gamma-butyrolactone was prepared by a method which involves (1) the condensation of the sodium salt of ethyl malonate with P-chloro-ethylvinyl ether to form ethyl vinyloxyethylmalonate, l (2) saponification of the ester,(3) liberation of the free acid with simultaneous hydrolysis and liberation of acetaldehyde to form 0-hydroxyethylmalonic acid,(4) pyrogenic decomposition to the lactone of y-hydroxybutyric acid. The alpha- ...
