Abstract
γ- and δ-Hydroxyamides can be prepared in high yields by heating a lactone with ammonia in a pressure tube. The ammonia can be removed by controlled evaporation with ice/acetone cooling.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported in part by a Glaxo-Wellcome Summer Fellowship for N.D.I., an NSF REU grant (CHE-8804803), and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Faculty Development Grant. Char les P. Kulier performed some valuable literature searches.