Stereospecificity in allergic contact dermatitis to simple substituted methylene lactones derivatives

Abstract
The enantiomers of .beta., .gamma.-dimthyl- and .beta.-methyl-.alpha.-methylene-.gamma.-butyrolactones have been synthesized stereospecifically from glutamic acid and .beta.-hydroxy isobutyric acid, respectively. Guinea pigs have been sensitized (Freund complete adjuvant technique) and tested to them. Both enantiomers of .beta.-methyl lactone as well as (+)-.beta., .gamma.-dimethyl lactone induced enantiospecific allergic contact dermatitis (ACD); in turn, (-)-.beta., .gamma.-dimethyl lactone showed no specificity. An interpretation is proposed.