A new regioselective synthesis of 3-substituted furan-2(5H)-ones by palladium-catalysed reductive carbonylation of alk-1-ynes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)02464-2

3-Alkyl- or 3-aryl-substituted furan-2(5H)-ones are obtained directly in fair yields by reductive carbonylation of alk-1-ynes in the presence of catalytic amounts of palladium iodide in conjunction with potassium iodide (10 eq.) and water (200 eq.). Simultaneous oxidation of CO to CO₂ accounts for the stoichiometry of the process. Reactions are carried out in dioxane under mild conditions (80 °C and 10 atm of carbon monoxide).