Abstract: Recently, the catalytic utilization of hypervalent iodine reagents is increasing in importance, with the growing interest in the development of environmentally benign synthetic transformations.  Halolactonization has been studied extensively, and this type of transformation serves as an important key reaction in a variety of syntheses.  However, compared with iodolactonization and bromolactonization, there are relatively few examples of chlorolactonization.  In order to improve the chlorolactonization, the cyclization of alkenoic acids under catalyst PhI was  investigated, a novel and convenient catalytic method for chlorolactonization of pentenoic acids was  developed.  In this protocol, 4-pentenoic acids reacted with lithium chloride fast under catalyst iodobenzene in combination with m-chloroperbenzoic acid as the terminal oxidant in CH2Cl2 at room temperature, which provided  five-membered chlorolactones in good yields. This method has some advantages such as mild reaction conditions, simple procedure and good yields. Furthermore, the scope of hypervalent iodine reagents in organic synthesis could be extended.

Key words: Hypervalent iodine reagent, Catalytic chlorolactonization, 4-Pentenoic acid, Synthesis