• Reacts with ?-hydroxy esters in pyridine to give ?-lactones which, at higher temperatures eliminate CO2 in a stereospecific alkene synthesis: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 94, 2000 (1972); J. Org. Chem., 39, 1322, 1650 (1974):
• Alternatively, MgBr2 induces a ring-opening reaction leading to ?-unsaturated acids. See, e.g.: Synth. Commun., 19, 2243 (1989).