An efficient furan ring transfer reaction: a versatile key intermediate leading to the basic skeleton of naturally occurring fused furans

Abstract

Base-catalysed furan ring transfer reaction of the tetrahydrobenzofurnyl propynyl ether (2) followed by Claisen ([3,3]) rearrangement provides a simple route to the tricyclic furan (8), a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of viridin and related compounds.