Palladium-catalyzed oxidative alkoxylation of alpha-alkenyl beta-diketones to form functionalized furans

Treatment of 4-allyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanedione with a catalytic amount of PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) (5 mol %) and a stoichiometric amount of CuCl(2) (2.2 equiv) in dioxane at 60 degrees C for 12 h formed 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropyl-5-methylfuran in 77% isolated yield. A number of alpha-alkenyl beta-diketones underwent oxidative alkoxylation under these conditions to form 2,3,5-trisubsituted furans in moderate to good yield.