Lactones: Classification, synthesis, biological activities, and industrial applications

Abstract This review summarizes the current knowledge on lactones, a class of biologically active natural products isolated from a wide range of living organisms. Butenolide, 5,6-dihydropyran-2-one, and sesquiterpene lactones display an impressive variety of bioactivities and are the most abundant in nature. This paper provides a compilation of ring construction strategies for the synthesis of small, medium, and macrolactones and discusses their biological activities and industrial, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical applications.