Copper-catalyzed Cloke–Wilson rearrangement for the synthesis of dihydrofurans containing tetrasubstituted carbon atoms†

Abstract

The Cloke–Wilson rearrangement is a well-established method for synthesizing dihydrofurans, but it primarily results in dihydrofurans lacking tetrasubstituted carbon atoms. In this study, we introduce a copper-catalyzed variant of the Cloke–Wilson rearrangement that utilizes 1,1,2,2-tetrasubstituted cyclopropanes. This approach allows for the synthesis of a diverse range of dihydrofurans featuring tetrasubstituted carbon atoms, with yields ranging from good to excellent.