| Abstract: | The unsubstituted pyrylium nucleus is shown to undergo reaction with cuprate or secondary Grignard organometallic reagents to give intermediate 4-substituted pyrans which are converted into the corresponding 4-substituted pyrylium salts (7 examples) in fair to good overall yield. The synthetic utility of the 4-substituted pyrylium heterocycles is demonstrated by their reaction with organolithium reagents to give 3,5-disubstituted dienals in a highly stereospecific manner (7 examples) via electrocyclic ring opening of the intermediate 2-substituted pyrans. |
