Cyclisation of 1,2-dioxines containing tethered hydroxyl and carboxylic acid functionality: synthesis of tetrahydrofurans and dihydrofuran-2(3H)-ones

Herein we outline cyclisations of tethered hydroxyl and carboxylic acid moieties onto the olefinic motif of 1,2-dioxines to generate tetrahydrofurans and dihydrofuran-2(3H)-ones, whilst maintaining the peroxide linkage intact. This work demonstrates the first examples of intramolecular cyclisation of tethered hydroxyl groupings onto 1,2-dioxines generating functionalised THFs in a highly stereoselective manner and includes improved methods for previously reported carboxylic acid tether cyclisations. Additionally, improved methods for the oxidation of 1,2-dioxines containing tethered alcohols to furnish tethered carboxylic acids are also detailed. Subsequent reduction of the peroxide linkage enables the generation of functionalised tetrahydrofurans and dihydrofuran-2(3H)-ones, which are useful building blocks for the construction of natural products.     

Bi(III) halides as efficient catalysts for the O-acylative cleavage of tetrahydrofurans: an expeditious entry to tetralins

The mild (DCM/20 °C), quantitative, regioselective, O-acylative cleavage of tetrahydrofurans using organic acid halides with catalytic Bi(III) halides is reported. X-ray crystallography is used to rationalise the failure of the reaction in the case of certain crowded acid chlorides, and a useful aspect of chemoselectivity is revealed. The synthetic potential of this reaction is illustrated with a highly efficient O-acylative cleavage/intramolecular alkylation approach to tetralins.     

Synthesis of sterically congested bicyclic tetrahydrofurans via Pd-catalyzed cyclization

Prins-type cyclization followed by palladium-catalyzed cyclization provided sterically congested bi- or tricyclic tetrahydrofurans, which are very stereoselective as well. cis-2,5-Disubstituted tetrahydrofurans obtained from Prins-type cyclization have an allenyl group and a functional group such as alcohol, carboxylic acid, and aryl halide. The tetrahydrofurans bearing an allene group underwent palladium-catalyzed cyclization to give sterically congested bi- or tricyclic tetrahydrofurans.     

A highly diastereoselective approach to tetrahydrofurans via [3+2] cycloadditions of silylmethyl-substituted cyclopropanes with aldehydes and ketones

An efficient and highly diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted tetrahydrofurans from the reaction of a vicinal t-butyldiphenylsilylmethyl-substituted cyclopropyl diester with aldehydes and ketones has been developed. The 2,5-cis-disubstitution predominates over the 2,5-trans-disubstitution by as much as 12:1. The reaction with cyclic ketones generates spiro-fused tetrahydrofurans in good yields.     

Stereocontrolled construction of tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans: synthesis of 2,5-anhydro d-glucitol

A highly stereoselective construction of 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans has been accomplished by an unusual intramolecular 5-endo-tet cyclization of 2,3-epoxy alcohols involving hydroxyl nucleophile. The method has been utilized for the synthesis of 2,5-anhydro d-glucitol through two different approaches starting from the chiral molecule, l(+)-diethyl tartarate or from the non-chiral compound, allyl bromide or cis-but-2-ene-1,4-diol. This synthetic method is a useful example of 5-endo-tet cyclization of 2,3-epoxy alcohols.     

Consecutive reactions with sulfoximines: a direct access to 2-sulfonimidoylylidene tetrahydrofurans and 6-sulfonimidoylmethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrans

2-Sulfonimidoylylidene tetrahydrofurans and 2-sulfonimidoylylidene-5-vinyl tetrahydrofurans were readily synthesized via a consecutive acylation/SN2 sequence with total regio- and chemoselectivity from Johnson's sulfoximine derivatives. The same consecutive reaction could also be applied to the expeditious synthesis of 6-sulfonimidoylmethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrans.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure perhydrofuro[3,4-b]pyrans and perhydrofuro[3,4-b]furans

Olefinic diols, prepared from (R)-(+)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxaldehyde via olefination and hydrolysis, were converted into enantiomerically pure hydroxy substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives by cyclization using N-phenylselenophthalimide and BF₃. The PhSe group in the C-4 position of these tetrahydrofurans was then substituted by an allyl group using allyltributylstannane in the presence of AIBN. The selenium promoted cyclizations of the allyl tetrahydrofurans in which the OH and the allyl groups are trans to each other formed the enantiopure perhydrofuro[3,4-b]pyrans, while the cyclization of the allyl tetrahydrofurans in which the OH and the allyl groups are cis gave rise to the perhydrofuro[3,4-b]furans. These bicyclic products were finally deselenenylated with triphenyltin hydride and AIBN.     

Stereoelectronic control in the solvolysis of spiroepoxidic 1-norbornyl triflates: unexpected reactivity in 3-bromomethyl derivatives

Interesting norbornane-fused tetrahydrofurans, with an additional synthetically-valuable vicinal dioxy-substitution in the norbornane skeleton, are enantiospecifically obtained in high yield from epimeric camphor-derived 3-endo-bromomethyl-substituted spiroepoxidic 1-norbornyl triflates. The process takes place via a domino reaction stereoelectronically controlled by the bromine atom. The described process has synthetic value, since it opens the way for a future enantiospecific preparation of 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans from camphor.     

Perruthenate ion. Another metal oxo species able to promote the oxidative cyclisation of 1,5-dienes to 2,5-disubstituted cis-tetrahydrofurans

Perruthenate ion, from tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP), in the presence of tetrabutylammonium periodate (TBAPI) as reoxidant catalyses the stereospecific and stereoselective oxidative cyclisation of 1,5-dienes to cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans in good to moderate yields. NMO also works as co-oxidant in the process but is less effective and at least 0.7 equiv TPAP are required. Acidic conditions promote the formation of THF diols. 1,5-Dienes with two terminal double bonds give poor yields of THF’s or cleavage products.     

An iodocyclization approach toward diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans with 2,5-trans and 2,5-cis relationships from pyranoside derived acyclic oximes

An efficient method to obtain novel tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans with C2 and C5 substitution in trans- and cis-relative configurations has been reported.     

Polymer-supported selenium-induced electrophilic cyclization: solid-phase synthesis of poly-substituted dihydrofurans and tetrahydrofurans

Poly-substituted dihydrofurans and tetrahydrofurans have been synthesized through polymer-supported selenium-induced intramolecular electrophilic cyclization, followed by selenoxide syn-elimination or novel nucleophilic substitution cleavage of selenium resin with good yields and purities.     

Titanium(III)-induced intramolecular radical cyclization of epoxyallene ethers: an efficient method for synthesis of multifunctional tetrahydrofurans

Ti(III)-mediated intramolecular free radical cyclization of epoxyallene ethers in an exo-mode was studied. The reaction afforded an efficient and highly regioselective method of synthetically important 3-vinyl-4-hydroxymethyl tetrahydrofurans.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction of N-tosylhydrazones with 3-butyn-1-ol: A new synthesis of tetrahydrofurans

The Cu(I)-catalyzed cascade coupling/cyclization reaction of N-tosylhydrazones with 3-butyn-1-ol has been explored. This new strategy represents a simple platform for the synthesis of tetrahydrofurans in moderate to good yields.     

A new approach to the synthesis of 1-oxaspiro[4.n]alkanes and tetrahydrofurans by the 1,5-CH insertion reaction of magnesium carbenoids

1-Alkoxy-1-[2-chloro-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)ethyl]cycloalkanes were prepared from various cyclic ketones in good overall yields. Treatment of these cycloalkanes bearing a sulfinyl group with i-PrMgCl resulted in the formation of 1-oxaspiro[4.n]alkanes in high to quantitative yields via the 1,5-CH insertion reaction of generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates. When this procedure was commenced with acyclic ketones, multi-substituted tetrahydrofurans were obtained in up to a 96% yield. This procedure provides a new and good way for the synthesis of 1-oxaspiro[4.n]alkanes and tetrahydrofurans with the formation of a carbon–carbon bond between a carbenoid carbon and a non-activated carbon in high yields. The oxygen atom in the magnesium carbenoid intermediates was proved to act very important roles in the 1,5-CH insertion reaction.     

(R)-2,3-Cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde: a novel template for simple entry into both cis- and trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation at the terminal olefin of benzoates 3a and 3b, using both AD-mix α and AD-mix β afforded only one diastereomer of diols 5a and 5b, respectively. Diols 5a and 5b were easily transformed into cis- and trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans 7 and 14, respectively, which were subsequently converted into known compounds 12 and 19.     

Electrophilic selenocyclization in 2-ene-1,5-diol systems: unexpected oxetane vs. tetrahydrofuran formation

Electrophile-induced cyclization of (E)- and (Z)-2-ene-1,5-diols to tetrahydrofurans and oxetanes is described. Significant differences between the present report and previous work have been noted. A tentative model is proposed.     

Synthesis of tetrahydrofurans via silicon promoted Pummerer type reaction

A novel, unprecedented transformation of δ-hydroxysulfoxides into substituted tetrahydrofurans by a silicon promoted Pummerer type reaction is disclosed. The transformation is shown to be general and is brought about under very mild reaction conditions. The products with the sulfide group at the anomeric carbon provide a suitable handle to carry out further transformations.     

Highly functionalized trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans from ribofuranoside templates: precursors to linked polycyclic ethers

Iodoetherification of C5 allylated ribo-furanosides leads to trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans with high selectivity. The application of this reaction to the synthesis of complex polycyclic ethers is illustrated in the preparation of a truncated, tricyclic analog of monensin A.     

An expedient synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted-3-oxygenated tetrahydrofurans

Single enantiomer 2,5-disubstituted-3-oxygenated tetrahydrofurans are synthesized in as little as four steps from a commercially available epoxide. The key steps are homoallylic alcohol epoxidation, palladium-catalysed alkoxy-carbonylation-lactonisation and Mitsunobu inversion. The protocol is applied to the formal total syntheses of (+)-kumausallene, (6S,7S,9R,10R)-6,9-epoxynonadec-18-ene-7,10-diol and the core of lytophilippine A.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans and 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans using an intramolecular allylation strategy employing allylsilanes

A Brønsted acid-mediated intramolecular allylation involving an allylsilane and an aldehyde has been used as the key step in a stereoselective synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans and 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans.