Homologation of furfural and derivatives to furylacetaldehydes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/00397919108021571

The homologation of furfural 1a and methyl 3-(5-formyl-2-furyl) propenoate 1b or ethyl 3-(5-formyl-2-furyl) propenoate 1c to the corresponding furylacetaldehydes was carried out in two stages: i) preparation of the furan epoxides from 1a, 1b, 1c. ii) cleavage and rearrangement of the epoxides on sepiolite. Sepiolite is a convenient catalyst for this last stage involving substrates as labile as the furan epoxides.