On the Scope of a Prins‐Type Cyclization of Oxonium Ions

The Prins cyclization of an aldehyde 1 with a homoallylic alcohol 2 , affording tetrahydro‐2H‐pyrans 4 via the oxonium ion 3 as central intermediate, was conceptually transferred to (alk‐3‐enyloxy)acrylates 6 , which form a related oxonium ion 7 upon treatment with acids (Scheme 1). The scope and utility of this modification of the Prins‐type cyclization of oxonium ions is discussed exemplarily by means of the syntheses of ten tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran and tetrahydrofuran derivatives, featuring diverse substitution patterns as well as different degrees of molecular complexity. These target structures include (±)‐ethyl (2RS)‐2‐(2RS,4SR,6RS)‐ and (2SR,4RS,6SR)‐2‐tetahydro‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methylpyran‐2‐yl]propanoate ( 23 ), (±)‐ethyl (2RS, 3RS)‐tetrahydro‐3‐isopropenylfuran‐2‐yl]acetate ( 32 ), (±)‐ethyl (2Z)‐3‐(tetrahydro‐2,2‐dimethylfuran‐3‐yl)acrylate ( 37 ), (±)‐(3aRS,6RS, 7aRS)‐octahydro‐7a‐methylbenzofuran‐6‐yl formate ( 42 ), (±)‐ethyl (2RS,3RS,4aRS,8SR,8aRS)‐hexahydro‐2,5,5,8‐tetramethyl‐7‐oxo‐2H,5H‐pyrano4,3‐b]pyran‐3‐carboxylate ( 48 ), and (±)‐ethyl (2RS,3RS,6SR)‐tetrahydro‐6‐(2‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethyl)‐3‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐carboxylate ( 53 ) (see Schemes 3 and 5–8). Besides the stereochemistry and mechanistic details of this versatile oxonium‐ion cyclization, the synthesis of suitable starting materials is also described.