Rates and Equilibria in the Reaction of gamma-Butyrolactone with Alcohols. A Convenient Synthesis of 4-HydroxybutyratesH. C. Brown and K. A. KeblysJ. Org. Chem 31, 485-487 (1966)
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https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/gbl.alcoholysis.equilibria.pdf)
AbstractThe acid-catalyzed alcoholysis of gamma-butyrolactone yields an equilibrium mixture of the lactone and the corresponding 4-hydroxybutyrates. Methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl esters of 4-hydroxybutyric acid were isolated in 10-50% yield. The relative rates of the acid-catalyzed reaction of gamma-butyrolactone with alcohols decrease in the order: methyl > ethyl > isopropyl. The equilibrium constants and the equilibrium concentrations of the corresponding 4-hydroxybutyrates have been determined.