From Simple Furans to Complex Nitrogen‐Bearing Aromatic Polycycles by Means of a Flexible and General Reaction Sequence Initiated by Singlet Oxygen

Abstract

All-in-one: A new and general one-pot reaction sequence initiated by singlet oxygen that transforms simple furan substrates into complex nitrogen-bearing aromatic polycycles having all the structural features of a number of important natural products (for example, the erythrina alkaloids; see scheme, RB = rose Bengal) is reported. The reaction sequence itself uses mild conditions and has wide functional group tolerance.