Silver Nanoparticle-Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted γ-Butenolides

Abstract An efficient methodology was developed for the synthesis of butenolides catalyzed by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This approach affords both conjugated and deconjugated γ-substituted butenolides in yields of up to 74%. Typically, alkynes serve as key precursors for the synthesis of butenolides in the presence of metal catalysts; however, in many cases, catalysts are difficult to recover. In this study, the silver nanoparticles catalyst was recovered and reused over multiple catalytic cycles.