Rapid Access to 2‐Methylene Tetrahydrofurans and γ‐Lactones: A Tandem Four‐Step Process

Abstract

A one-pot tandem process involving hydrolysis, Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, and Conia-ene (HKMC) reactions has been developed for the rapid synthesis of indanone-fused 2-methylene tetrahydrofurans from the reaction of enynals and propynols. In this process, two rings and four bonds are generated with 100 % atom-economy and high step-efficiency. The resulting tetrahydrofurans were readily oxidized into α-methylene γ-lactones, which are one of the most important substructures in natural and bioactive compounds.