Solid Base Cs2CO3/SiO2-Catalyzed Synthesis of Dihydrofurancarboxylate Derivatives via [3 + 2] Cyclization Reaction of Acylacetates and β-Nitrostyrenes

Abstract

Dihydrofuran is a unique motif found in numerous natural products. Due to the biological and medicinal importance of dihydrofuran derivatives, a great deal of protocols for the synthesis of dihydrofurans have been developed. In this study, a novel approach to the synthesis of substituted 4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates from a wide range of substituted β-nitrostyrenes and acyl acetates was investigated via solid base Cs₂CO₃/SiO₂-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. The reactions were carried out under mild reaction conditions in DMF medium at 110°C, and the products were cleanly obtained in moderate yields. This procedure provided an environmentally friendly route to functionalized dihydrofurans from readily available substrates under mild reaction conditions.