An alkyne hydroacylation route to highly substituted furans

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.201105795

More rings for your rhodium: Rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular alkyne hydroacylations deliver γ-hydroxy-α,β-enones, which can be cyclized in situ to deliver di-and trisubstituted furans. Functionalization of the intermediates using Heck chemistry allows the formation of regioisomeric furans. The use of an alternative Rh^I catalyst delivers 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds and hence pyrroles, thiophenes, and pyridazines, all from the same two starting materials. Copyright