β-Substituted γ-butyrolactams from mucochloric acid: synthesis of (±)-baclofen and other γ-aminobutyric acids and useful building blocks

A method has been developed to generate γ-butyrolactams substituted regioselectively at the β-position using simple and mild conditions starting with mucochloric acid. The method was further extended to synthesize (±)-baclofen and other γ-aminobutyric acids.