Abstract
Reaction of 1,4-butanediol or 1,5-pentanediol with N-haloamides such as N-chlorosuccinimide, N-bromosuccinimide, N-bromoacetamide, isocyanuric chloride, and N,N-dichlorobenzene-sulfonamide under mild conditions gave γ -butyrolactone or δ-valerolactone, respectively, in high yields.