Iminoiodane- and Br?nsted base-mediated cross dehydrogenative coupling of cyclic ethers with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules200713336

A one-pot, two-step approach to prepare 2-tetrahydrofuran and -pyran substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds by PhI=NTs-mediated amination/Br?nsted base-catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction of the cyclic ether and 1,3-dicarbonyl derivative under mild conditions is reported. The reaction is compatible with a variety of cyclic ethers and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, affording the corresponding coupled products in moderate to good yields of up to 80% over two steps.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules200713336

Molecules 2015, 20, 13336-13353; doi:10.3390/molecules200713336
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molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Iminoiodane- and Brønsted Base-Mediated Cross
Dehydrogenative Coupling of Cyclic Ethers with
1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds
Ciputra Tejo 1, Xiao Rong Sim 1, Bo Ra Lee 2, Benjamin James Ayers 1, Chung-Hang Leung 3,
Dik-Lung Ma 4 and Philip Wai Hong Chan 2,5,
*
1
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore;
E-Mails: cipu0002@e.ntu.edu.sg (C.T.); xrsim1@e.ntu.edu.sg (X.R.S.);
benayers@ntu.edu.sg (B.J.A.)
2
3
4
5
School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia;
E-Mail: bora.lee@monash.edu
State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical
Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China; E-Mail: duncanleung@umac.mo
Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China;
E-Mail: edmondma@hkbu.edu.hk
Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: phil.chan@monash.edu or
P.W.H.Chan@warwick.ac.uk; Tel.: +61-3-9905-1337; Fax: +61-3-9905-4597.
Academic Editor: Kei Saito
Received: 1 June 2015 / Accepted: 14 July 2015 / Published: 22 July 2015
Abstract: A one-pot, two-step approach to prepare 2-tetrahydrofuran and -pyran substituted
1,3-dicarbonyl compounds by PhI=NTs-mediated amination/Brønsted base-catalyzed cross
dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction of the cyclic ether and 1,3-dicarbonyl derivative
under mild conditions is reported. The reaction is compatible with a variety of cyclic ethers
and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, affording the corresponding coupled products in moderate to
good yields of up to 80% over two steps.
Keywords: C–C bond formation; cross dehydrogenation coupling; 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds;
iminoiodanes; metal-free catalysis

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1. Introduction
Recently, there has been an increasing amount of attention toward the ultimate goal of the
establishment of more sustainable organic transformations, owing to increased concerns over the
impact of present chemical methods and processes on the living environment [1–4]. In this regard, the
direct activation of carbon–hydrogen bonds in carbon–carbon bond forming CDC reactions has emerged
as one of the most powerful and atom-economical methods in modern organic chemistry [5–9].
A number of transition metal salts, mainly those of Pd, Rh, Ru and Cu, in the presence of an oxidant,
to effect these transformations at a variety of C–H bonds such as those at the benzylic, aryl, and alkyl
C(sp3)–H positions have often been targeted [10–35]. In the case of the latter, this has included CDC
reactions at the α-C–H bond of the heteroatom in ethers, amines, and sulfides with nucleophiles
catalyzed by Fe or Cu salts [36–61]. More recently, the development of these reactions mediated by
non-metal based catalysts has come under increasing scrutiny [62–71]. In the presence of an oxidant such
as a peroxide, DDQ, TEMPO, dioxygen or hypervalent iodide reagent, a variety of carbon nucleophiles
were shown to functionalize the α-carbon position of the heteroatom in amines and ethers [65–81]. As
part of our interest in the chemistry of iminoiodanes, we wondered whether this class of I(III) compounds
could mediate the α-functionalization of cyclic ethers by a carbon nucleophile under basic conditions.
In doing so, we discovered THF, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran and THP shown in Scheme 1 to undergo
α-C–H bond amination by PhI=NTs [82–109]. This was followed by substitution at the aminal carbon
center by 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds under the basic conditions. Herein, we report the details, this
chemistry that provides access to 2-tetrahydrofuran and -pyran substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds
in up to 80% yield over two steps.
O
O
R1
R1
R2
n
n
PhI=NTs
rt, 50 min
n
3
O
R
R
NHTs
R
H
O
O
O
DBU (10 mol %)
PhMe, rt–80 oC
18 h
O
R2
1
2
4
n = 1,2
R = H, Me
Scheme 1. Iminoiodane-mediated CDC reaction of cyclic ethers with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
2. Results and Discussion
Our investigations began with the in situ generation of 2-tosylaminotetrahydrofuran 2a from THF
1a and PhI=NTs, which was obtained in 90% yield based on 1H-NMR measurements [95]. Subsequent
treatment of this adduct with 3 equiv of ethyl benzoylacetate 3a and 10 mol % of DBU as the catalyst
in THF at room temperature for 18 h gave ethyl 3-oxo-3-phenyl-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate 4a
in 41% yield (Table 1, entry 1) [103,110–112]. Changing the solvent from THF to diethyl ether in the
second step gave a comparable product yield (Table 1, entry 2). Our subsequent studies found that the
use of dichloromethane and toluene in place of THF led to higher product yields of 79% and 78%,
respectively (Table 1, entries 3 and 4). However, other bases, such as Et3N, DABCO, and MTBD,
in place of DBU as the catalyst, afforded lower product yields of 61% or no reaction (Table 1, entries 5–7).

Molecules 2015, 20
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With DBU as the base and toluene as the solvent, decreasing the amount of 3a from 3 to 2 or 1 equiv
led to comparable product yields of 80% and 73%, respectively (Table 1, entries 8 and 9). On the other
hand, a lower product yield of 67% was observed on lowering the catalyst loading of DBU from 10 to
5 mol % (Table 1, entry 10). From these results, the one-pot reaction of 1a and PhI=NTs at room
temperature for 50 min followed by treating with 2 equiv of 3a in the presence of 10 mol % of DBU
catalyst in toluene at room temperature for 18 h was deemed to provide the optimal reaction conditions.
Table 1. Optimization of reaction conditions a.
Ph
1. PhI=NTs, rt, 50 min
O
O
O
+
O
Ph
OEt
O
2. catalyst, solvent
rt, 18 h
O
EtO
4a
1a
3a
Entry Catalyst (mol %) Solvent Yield (%) b
1
2
DBU (10)
DBU (10)
DBU (10)
DBU (10)
Et3N (10)
THF
Et2O
41
54 c
79
3
CH2Cl2
PhMe
PhMe
PhMe
PhMe
PhMe
PhMe
PhMe
4
78
d
5
-
d
6
DABCO (10)
MTBD (10)
DBU (10)
DBU (10)
DBU (5)
-
7
61
80
73 c
67
8 e
9 f
10 e
a
All reactions were carried out under N2(g) with 0.25 M of PhI=NTs in THF for 50 min followed by
treatment with the appropriate reaction condition. b Isolated yield over two steps. c Yield was determined by
1H NMR analysis of crude mixture. d No reaction observed based on TLC and 1H NMR analysis of the crude
mixture. e Two equiv of 3a was used. f One equiv of 3a was used.
To define the generality of the present procedure, a series of cyclic ethers 1 and 1,3-dicarbonyl
compounds 3 were tested and the results are summarized in Figure 1. These experiments revealed that
reaction of 1a with a range of aryl-substituted β-ketoesters bearing electron-donating (3b–d) and
electron-withdrawing (3e–h) groups proceeded well to afford the corresponding adducts 4b–h in good
yields of 40%–78%. Likewise, aliphatic-substituted β-ketoesters (3i–k) were well tolerated, furnishing
the corresponding targets 4i–k in yields of 32%–63%. The present methodology was also applicable to
dialkyl malonates (3l–o), as well as the 1,3-dimethyl dione 3p with the corresponding products 4l–p
provided in good yields of 42%–71%. This is notable, as existing transition metal-catalyzed CDC reactions
of these types of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds have been previously reported to be incompatible [60].
The influence of the cyclic ether coupling partner on the efficiency of the reaction was then
assessed. For 2-methyltetrahydrofuran 1b and THP 1c, the reaction of these cyclic ethers with 3a gave
the corresponding adducts 4q and 4r in 43% and 57% yield, respectively. However, no reaction
was observed when either 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran 1s or dibutyl ether 1t was treated with 3a, under the
standard conditions, with PhI=NTs and DBU. In the case of 1t, decomposition of the α-aminated ether
intermediate was observed by both TLC and 1H-NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixture.

Molecules 2015, 20
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R1
n
1. PhI=NTs, rt, 50 min
O
O
n
O
+
R
O
R1
R2
2. DBU (10 mol %)
PhMe, rt, 18 h
R
O
O
R2
1
3
4
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
OEt
R
OEt
RO
OR
R
O
4l R = Me (51%)
4b R = 2-Me (59%)
4c R = 4-Me (72%)
4d R = 4-OMe (40%)
4e R = 4-F (76%)
4f R = 4-Cl (71%)
4g R = 4-Br (78%)
4h R = 4-I (73%)
4i R = Me (32%)
4j R = Et (63%)
4k R = i-Pr (61%)
4m R = Et (42%)
4n R = i-Pr (67%)b
4o R = Bn (71%)b
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
OEt
OEt
Me
Me
O
Me
4q (43%)b,c
4r (57%)c,d
4p (65%)
O
O
O
O
OEt
OEt
O
n-Pr
On-Bu
4s -e
All reactions were carried out under N2(g) with 0.25 M of PhI=NTs in ether for 50 min followed by
treatment with 2 equiv of 3 and of 10 mol % DBU in toluene for 18 h. Isolated yields over two steps are in
4t -f
a
b
c
parentheses. Reaction temperature = 40 °C. Isolated yield is calculated based on the conversion of step
one. Refer to experimental section for details. d Reaction temperature = 80 °C. e No reaction observed based
on TLC and 1H-NMR analysis of the crude mixture. f Decomposition of starting material based on TLC and
1H-NMR analysis of the crude mixture.
Figure 1. Iminoiodane-mediated CDC reactions of cyclic ethers 1 and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds 3 a.
At room temperature, reaction of 1a with diisopropyl malonate 3n was found to lead to 5n being
isolated in 25% yield (Scheme 2). The structure of compound 5n was confirmed by single crystal X-ray
analysis (Figure 2). The isolation of this acyclic adduct led us to speculate its possible involvement as
an intermediate in the α-functionalization reaction. This was further supported by re-subjecting 5n to
10 mol % of DBU under the standard conditions at 40 °C (Scheme 3, eq. 1). This test gave 4n along
with a 1:1 mixture of 2a and 3n in 35% and 43% yield, respectively, with the latter two adducts being
obtained, presumably, from a competitive retro-Mannich-type pathway [113–118]. The role of DBU

Molecules 2015, 20
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in mediating the cyclization of the 1,4 amino aldol was also supported by our findings showing the
recovery of the substrate on treating it to the standard conditions in the absence of the Schiff base
(Scheme 3, Equation (2)).
O
O
1. PhI=NTs, rt, 50 min
O
O
+
i-PrO
TsHN
Oi-Pr
i-PrO
Oi-Pr
O
2. DBU (10 mol %)
PhMe, rt, 18 h
OH
1a
3n
5n
25% yield
Scheme 2. Reaction of 3n under optimum conditions at room temperature.
Figure 2. ORTEP drawing for 5n with thermal ellipsoids at 50% probability level [119].
O
O
O
O
DBU (10 mol %)
i-PrO
Oi-Pr
(1)
NHTs
i-PrO
Oi-Pr
O
PhMe, 40 oC
18 h
O
O
O
4n
35% yield
2a
1
3n
1
i-PrO
Oi-Pr
NHTs
:
43% yield
HO
O
O
5n
PhMe, 40 oC
18 h
i-PrO
Oi-Pr
(2)
O
4n
0% yield
Scheme 3. Control experiments with 5n in the absence and presence of DBU.

Molecules 2015, 20
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A tentative mechanism for the present iminoidane-mediated transformation under basic conditions
is illustrated in Scheme 4. Using the reaction 1a with 3a as a representative example, this could involve
formation of 2a on treating the cyclic ether with the PhI=NTs [95,96]. While the possible amination
pathway of this step remains presently unclear, the basic conditions provided by DBU may promote
ring-opening of the adduct to give the 1,4-imino alcohol intermediate Aa. Nucleophilic attack at the
imino carbon center of this substrate by the enolate of 3a would deliver the amino alcohol 5a. On
base-mediated deamination, the ensuing 3-methylene β-keto ester Ba might undergo 5-exo-trig cyclization
involving addition of the hydroxyl moiety to the alkene bond in the adduct to provide the product 4a.
DBU
PhI=NTs
HO
NTs
NHTs
O
O
1a
2a
Aa
O
O
OH
O
DBU
R1
R2
R1
R2
3a'
3a
O
O
O
O
R1
R1
R2
R1
R2
NHTs
O
O
HO
HO
NH2Ts
O
R2
4a
Ba
5a
Scheme 4. Proposed mechanism of CDC of cyclic ethers 1a and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds 3a.
3. Experimental Section
General Information
All reactions were performed in oven-dried glassware, under a N2(g) atmosphere at ambient
temperatures, unless otherwise stated. Unless specified, all reagents and starting materials were
purchased from commercial sources and used as received. PhI=NTs was prepared following literature
procedures [120]. Toluene and THF were distilled over sodium/benzophenone, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran,
tetrahydropyran, CH2Cl2 and MeCN were purified prior to use by distilling over CaH2. Analytical thin
layer chromatography (TLC) was performed using Merck 60 F254 pre-coated silica gel plates (Merck,
Darmstadt, Germany). Visualization was achieved by UV-Vis light (254 nm) followed by treatment
with ninhydrin stain and heating. Flash chromatography was performed using Merck silica gel 60 and a
gradient solvent system (EtOAc/n-hexane as eluent). Unless otherwise stated, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra
were measured on a Bruker AV300 or AV400 NMR spectrometer (Bruker, Fällanden, Switzerland), and
chemical shifts (ppm) were recorded in CDCl3 solution with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as the internal
1
reference standard. H-NMR product yields were determined with CH2Br2 as the internal reference
standard. Multiplicities are given as s (singlet), d (doublet), t (triplet), q (quartet), dt (doublet of triplets), or
m (multiplet). The number of protons (n) for a given resonance is indicated by nH, and coupling

Molecules 2015, 20
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constants are reported as a J value in Hz. Infrared spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu IR Prestige-21
FTIR spectrometer (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). Solid samples were examined as a thin film between
NaCl salt plates. Low resolution mass spectra were determined on a LCQ XP MAX mass spectrometer
(ThermoFisher Scientific, San Jose, CA, USA) and reported as a ratio of mass to charge (m/z). High
resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were obtained using a Finnigan MAT95XP LC/HRMS Q-TOF
1
mass spectrometer (Waters, Manchester, UK). The H- and 13C-NMR spectra of products 4a–r and
compound 5n is available in the Supplementary Materials.
Representative procedure for CDC of tetrahydronfuran 1a with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds 3a:
Tetrahydrofuran 1a (1 mL) was added to PhI=NTs (93 mg, 0.25 mmol) in a 5 mL round-bottomed
flask and stirred for 50 min at room temperature. The solvent was then removed under reduced pressure
and the flask back filled with N2(g). To the crude mixture, 1,3-dicarbonyl compound 3a (0.50 mmol,
2 equiv), DBU (4 μL, 0.025 mmol), and PhMe (1 mL) was subsequently added. The reaction was
stirred for 18 h at room temperature or 40 °C. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC
analysis, the crude mixture was purified by flash column chromatography (eluent: n-hexane/EtOAc,
5:1–4:1) to give the corresponding product 4a.
Ethyl 3-oxo-3-phenyl-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate (4a) [60]. Wt 52.2 mg; yield 80%; obtained
as two diastereomers with ratio of 1.3:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.15–1.20 (m, 6H),
1.47–1.56 (m, 1H), 1.74–1.81 (m, 1H), 1.83–1.98 (m, 4H), 2.16–2.27 (m, 2H), 3.70–3.91 (m, 4H),
4.11–4.20 (m, 4H), 4.41 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.46 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.65–4.73 (m, 2H), 7.45–7.50
(m, 2H), 7.56–7.61 (m, 1H), 8.02–8.05 (m, 2H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 13.9, 14.0, 25.4, 25.5,
29.7, 30.0, 30.2, 59.3, 60.2, 61.4, 61.6, 68.1, 68.2, 77.7, 78.1, 128.6, 128.7, 128.7, 133.4, 133.7, 136.4,
136.8, 167.5, 167.9, 193.3, 193.6.
Ethyl 3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-3-(o-tolyl)propanoate (4b). Wt 41.1 mg; yield 59%; obtained as
1
two diastereomers with ratio of 1.2:1; yellow oil; H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.14 (t, J = 5.6 Hz,
3H), 1.93 (t, J = 5.6 Hz, 3H), 1.52–1.64 (m, 1H), 1.68–1.80 (m, 1H), 1.86–1.97 (m, 4H), 2.17–2.27 (m,
2H), 2.49 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 3.69–3.91 (m, 4H), 4.09–4.21 (m, 4H), 4.31 (d, J = 2.7 Hz, 1H), 4.34
(d, J = 3.0 Hz, 1H), 4.58–4.66 (m, 2H), 7.24–7.30 (m, 4H), 7.35–7.42 (m, 2H), 7.74–7.89 (m, 2H);
13C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 13.9, 14.0, 20.9, 21.1, 25.5, 30.1, 30.2, 61.3, 61.4, 61.8, 62.3, 68.0, 68.1,
78.1, 78.1, 125.5, 125.7, 128.7, 129.0, 131.5, 131.8, 131.9, 132.0, 138.8, 138.9, 167.6, 167.9, 196.7,
197.2; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2979, 2930, 1740, 1688, 1456 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C16H20NaO4
[M + Na]+ 299.1259, found 299.1268.
Ethyl 3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-3-(p-tolyl)propanoate (4c). Wt 49.9 mg; yield 72%; obtained as
1
two diastereomers with ratio of 1.2:1; yellow oil; H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.15–1.20 (m, 6H),
1.44–1.56 (m, 1H), 1.71–1.81 (m, 1H), 1.83–1.98 (m, 4H), 2.13–2.27 (m, 2H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s,
3H), 3.68–3.91 (m, 4H), 4.10–4.20 (m, 4H), 4.38 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1H), 4.42 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1H), 4.62–4.73
(m, 2H), 7.25–7.28 (m, 4H), 7.91–7.95 (m, 4H); 13C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 21.7, 25.4, 25.5,
30.0, 30.2, 59.2, 60.1, 61.4, 61.5, 68.1, 68.1, 77.7, 78.1, 128.9, 129.0, 129.3, 129.4, 134.0, 134.4,
144.4, 144.7, 167.7, 168.0, 192.8, 193.1; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2980, 1732, 1682, 1607 cm−1; HRMS (ESI)
calcd for C16H21O4 [M + H]+ 277.1440, found 277.1439.

Molecules 2015, 20
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Ethyl 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate (4d). Wt 31.6 mg; yield 40%;
obtained as two diastereomers with ratio of 1.4:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.16–1.21
(m, 6H), 1.47–1.54 (m, 1H), 1.74–1.81 (m, 1H) 1.85–2.00 (m, 4H), 2.14–2.24 (m, 2H), 3.70–3.88 (m,
10H), 4.11–4.20 (m, 4H), 4.36 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H), 4.40 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H), 4.64–4.73 (m, 2H), 6.93–6.96
13
(m, 4H), 8.01–8.04 (m, 4H); C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 14.0, 25.4, 25.5, 30.0, 30.2, 55.5,
55.5, 59.0, 60.0, 61.4, 61.5, 68.1, 68.2, 77.7, 78.2, 113.8, 113.9, 129.5, 129.8, 131.2, 131.3, 163.9,
164.1, 167.8, 168.2, 191.6, 191.9; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2978, 2938, 1736, 1674, 1601, 1574, 1512 cm−1;
HRMS (ESI) calcd for C16H21O5 [M + H]+ 293.1389, found 293.1400.
Ethyl 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate (4e). Wt 53.1 mg; yield 76%;
obtained as two diastereomers with ratio of 1.1:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.16–1.22
(m, 6H), 1.46–1.58 (m, 1H), 1.72–1.82 (m, 1H), 1.84–1.99 (m, 4H), 2.17–2.27 (m, 2H), 3.69–3.91 (m,
4H), 4.12–4.21 (m, 4H), 4.37 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H), 4.62–4.72 (m, 2H), 7.11–7.18
13
(m, 4H), 8.04–8.10 (m, 4H); C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 13.9, 25.4, 30.1, 30.2, 59.4, 60.2, 61.5,
61.7, 68.1, 68.2, 77.7, 78.0, 115.6, 115.8, 115.9, 116.0, 131.4, 131.5, 131.6, 131.6, 167.4, 167.8, 191.8,
192.1; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2980, 1735, 1684, 1597 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C15H17FNaO4 [M + Na]+
303.1009, found 303.0999.
Ethyl 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate (4f). Wt 52.9 mg; yield 71%;
1
obtained as two diastereomers with ratio of 1:1; yellow oil; H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.16–1.21
(m, 6H), 1.46–1.58 (m, 1H), 1.69–1.79 (m, 1H), 1.8–1.99 (m, 4H), 2.15–2.27 (m, 2H), 3.69–3.90 (m,
4H), 4.11–4.21 (m, 4H), 4.36 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.38 (d, J = 9.3 Hz, 1H), 4.61–4.72 (m, 2H), 7.43–7.47
13
(m, 4H), 7.95–8.00 (m, 4H); C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 25.4, 30.1, 30.2, 59.4, 60.2, 61.6,
61.7, 68.1, 68.2, 77.7, 77.9, 128.9, 129.1, 130.2, 130.2, 134.7, 135.2, 140.0, 140.3, 167.3, 167.7, 192.2,
192.5; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2980, 1736, 1684, 1589 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C15H17ClNaO4 [M + Na]+
319.0713, found 319.0723.
Ethyl 3-(4-bromophenyl)-3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate (4g). Wt 66.1 mg; yield 78%;
obtained as two diastereomers with ratio of 1.2:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.16–1.21
(m, 6H), 1.46–1.58 (m, 1H), 1.69–1.79 (m, 1H) 1.81–1.99 (m, 4H), 2.15–2.27 (m, 2H), 3.68–3.90 (m,
4H), 4.10–4.21 (m, 4H), 4.36 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H) 4.37 (d, J = 9.3 Hz, 1H), 4.61–4.71 (m, 2H), 7.60–7.64
13
(m, 4H), 7.87–7.92 (m, 4H); C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 25.4, 30.1, 30.2, 59.4, 60.1, 61.6,
61.7, 68.1, 68.2, 77.7, 77.9, 128.8, 129.1, 130.2, 130.3, 131.9, 132.1, 135.1, 135.6, 167.3, 167.7, 192.4,
192.8; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2980, 1738, 1682 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C15H1779BrNaO4 [M + Na]+
363.0208, found 363.0222.
Ethyl 3-(4-iodophenyl)-3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propanoate (4h). Wt 70.4 mg; yield 73%;
obtained as two diastereomers with ratio of 1.2:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.16–1.21
(m, 6H), 1.45–1.57 (m, 1H), 1.69–1.80 (m, 1H), 1.84–1.98 (m, 4H), 2.14–2.27 (m, 2H), 3.68–3.90 (m,
4H), 4.05–4.25 (m, 4H), 4.34 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.36 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H), 4.60–4.71 (m, 2H), 7.71–7.75
13
(m, 4H), 7.82–7.86 (m, 4H); C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 25.4, 30.1, 30.2, 59.4, 60.0, 61.6,
61.7, 68.1, 68.2, 77.7, 77.9, 101.7, 102.1, 130.1, 130.2, 135.6, 136.1, 138.0, 138.1, 167.3, 167.6, 192.7,

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193.1; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2978, 1732, 1682, 1582 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C15H17INaO4 [M + Na]+
411.0069, found 411.0086.
Ethyl 3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)butanoate (4i) [60]. Wt 16.0 mg; yield 32%; obtained as two
diastereomers with ratio of 1.7:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.25–1.31 (m, 6H), 1.55–1.69
(m, 2H), 1.88–1.95 (m, 4H), 2.11–2.22 (m, 2H), 2.25 (s, 3H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 3.51 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H),
3.58 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 3.72–3.86 (m, 4H), 4.16–4.26 (m, 4H), 4.41–4.48 (m, 2H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 14.0, 25.3, 25.5, 29.7, 29.8, 29.9, 30.4, 61.4, 61.5, 65.0, 65.4, 68.0, 68.2, 77.2, 167.5, 167.9,
201.5, 202.1.
Ethyl 3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)pentanoate (4j). Wt 33.8 mg; yield 63%; obtained as two
diastereomers with ratio of 1.7:1; yellow oil; 1H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.03–1.10 (m, 6H), 1.23–1.30
(m, 6H), 1.52–1.67 (m, 2H), 1.85–1.95 (m, 4H), 2.08–2.24 (m, 2H), 2.52–2.68 (m, 4H), 3.55 (d, J = 9.6 Hz,
13
1H), 3.61 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 3.72–3.87 (m, 4H), 4.13–4.26 (m, 4H), 4.40–4.48 (m, 2H); C-NMR
(75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.37, 7.46, 14.0, 25.3, 25.5, 29.8, 30.4, 36.2, 36.3, 61.3, 61.4, 64.0, 64.3, 68.0,
68.1, 77.2, 77.4, 167.6, 168.0, 204.1, 204.6.
Ethyl 4-methyl-3-oxo-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)pentanoate (4k). Wt 35.0 mg; yield 61%; diastereomer
1
ratio could not be determined; H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.10–1.16 (m, 6H) 1.23–1.29 (m, 3H),
1.47–1.66 (m, 1H), 1.85–1.94 (m, 2H), 2.09–2.23 (m, 1H), 2.75–2.87 (m, 1H), 3.69–3.87 (m, 3H),
4.10–4.24 (m, 2H), 4.40–4.49 (m, 1H); 13C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 14.0, 17.7, 17.8, 17.8,
18.2, 25.3, 25.5, 29.9, 30.3, 41.2, 41.7, 61.2, 61.4, 62.0, 62.5, 68.0, 68.0, 77.5, 77.8, 167.4, 167.7, 207.4,
207.7; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2976, 2938, 1744, 1713, 1636 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C12H20NaO4
[M + Na]+ 251.1259, found 251.1262.
1
Dimethyl 2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)malonate (4l) [121]. Wt 25.7 mg; yield 51%; yellow oil; H-NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.66–1.78 (m, 1H), 1.88–1.97 (m, 2H), 2.11–2.22 (m, 1H), 3.49 (d, J = 9 Hz,
1H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.77 (s, 3H), 3.79–3.88 (m, 1H), 4.46 (dt, J = 8.7, 6.9 Hz, 1H); 13C-NMR (75 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 25.4, 29.9, 52.5, 52.6, 57.1, 68.3, 77.0, 167.6, 170.0.
1
Diethyl 2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)malonate (4m) [121]. Wt 24.2 mg; yield 42%; colourless oil; H-NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.24–1.30 (m, 6H), 1.68–1.79 (m, 1H), 1.88–1.97 (m, 2H), 2.11–2.22 (m, 1H),
3.44 (d, J = 9.3 Hz, 1H), 3.74–3.90 (m, 2H), 4.16–4.27 (m, 4H), 4.54 (dt, J = 9.0, 6.9 Hz, 1H); 13C-NMR
(75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 25.4, 29.9, 57.5, 61.4, 61.4, 68.2, 77.0, 167.2, 167.6.
1
Diisopropyl 2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)malonate (4n). Wt 43.5 mg; yield 67%; colourless oil; H-NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.23–1.27 (m, 12H), 1.68–1.79 (m, 1H), 1.87–1.96 (m, 2H), 2.09–2.20 (m, 1H),
3.37 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H), 3.74–3.89 (m, 2H), 4.39–4.47 (dt, J = 9.0, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.99–5.16 (m, 2H);
13C-NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 21.5, 21.6, 21.6, 25.4, 29.8, 57.8, 68.1, 68.8, 68.9, 76.9, 166.8, 167.1; IR
(NaCl, neat) ν 2982, 2878, 1748, 1732, 1636 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for C13H22NaO5 [M + Na]+
281.1365, found 281.1365.
1
Dibenzyl 2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)malonate (4o). Wt 63.3 mg; yield 71%; colourless oil; H-NMR
(400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.67–1.76 (m, 1H), 1.84–1.90 (m, 2H), 2.07–2.15 (m, 1H), 3.57 (d, J = 9.2 Hz,

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1H), 3.72–3.85 (m, 2H), 4.50 (dt, J = 9.2, 6.8 Hz, 1H) 5.13 (s, 2H), 5.18 (s, 2H), 7.28–7.35 (m, 10H);
13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 25.5, 29.9, 57.4, 67.1, 68.3, 77.0, 128.1, 128.2, 128.2, 128.4, 128.5,
128.6, 135.2, 135.5, 166.9, 167.3; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 3065, 3034, 2955, 2876, 1732, 1636 cm−1; HRMS
(ESI) calcd for C21H22NaO5 [M + Na]+ 377.1365, found 377.1375.
1
3-(Tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)pentane-2,4-dione (4p) [121]. Wt 27.5 mg; yield 65%; yellow oil; H-NMR
(400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.40–1.49 (m, 1H), 1.87–1.94 (m, 2H), 2.10–2.20 (m, 1H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s,
3H), 3.70–3.74 (m, 2H), 3.81–3.86 (m, 1H), 4.50 (m, J = 9.2, 6.8 Hz, 1H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 25.3, 29.5, 30.2, 30.4, 67.9, 74.3, 77.5, 202.2, 202.8.
Ethyl 2-(5-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-3-oxo-3-phenylpropanoate (4q). 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran 1b
(2 mL) was added to PhI=NTs (186 mg, 0.50 mmol) in a 5 mL round-bottomed flask and stirred for
1
50 min at room temperature (50% conversion based on H-NMR analysis). The solvent was removed
under reduced pressure and the flask back filled with N2(g). To the crude mixture, ethyl benzoylacetate
3a (87 μL, 0.50 mmol) and DBU (4 μL, 0.025 mmol) were subsequently added. In the absence of
solvent, the reaction was stirred at 40 °C for 18 h. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC
analysis, the crude mixture was purified by flash column chromatography (n-hexane/EtOAc, 5:1) to
give four diastereomers of the corresponding product 4q with ratio of 1.4:1.3:1.2:1 (22.7 mg, 41%) as
yellow oil; 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.13–1.28 (m, 24H), 1.30–1.65 (m, 8H), 1.81–1.91 (m, 2H),
1.95–2.30 (m, 6H), 3.96–4.23 (m, 12H), 4.41 (d, J = 4.4 Hz, 1H), 4.44 (d, J = 4.4 Hz, 1H), 4.45 (d,
J = 2.8 Hz, 1H), 4.48 (d, J = 2.8 Hz, 1H), 4.63–4.72 (m, 2H), 4.82–4.88 (m, 2H), 7.45–7.49 (m, 8H),
13
7.56–7.61 (m, 4H), 8.01–8.05 (m, 8H); C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.0, 14.0, 21.0, 21.1, 21.2,
29.8, 30.1, 30.5, 30.9, 32.6, 32.6, 33.3, 33.4, 59.6, 59.9, 60.2, 60.6, 61.4, 61.5, 75.2, 75.4, 75.8, 77.2,
77.7, 77.7, 78.0, 128.6, 128.6, 128.7, 128.7, 128.8, 128.8, 128.9, 133.4, 133.7, 136.5, 136.9, 167.6,
167.9, 168.0, 193.6, 193.7; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 2976, 2872, 1734, 1684 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for
C16H20NaO4 [M + Na]+ 299.1259, found 299.1263.
Ethyl 3-oxo-3-phenyl-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)propanoate (4r) [60]. Tetrahydropyran 1c (2 mL)
was added to PhI=NTs (186 mg, 0.50 mmol) in a 5 mL round-bottomed flask and stirred for 50 min at
65 °C (40% conversion based on 1H-NMR analysis). The solvent was removed under reduced pressure
and the flask back filled with N2(g). To the crude mixture, ethyl benzoylacetate 3a (69 μL, 0.40 mmol)
and DBU (3 μL, 0.025 mmol) were subsequently added. In the absence of solvent, the reaction was
stirred at 80 °C for 18 h. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC analysis, the crude
mixture was purified by flash column chromatography (n-hexane/EtOAc, 5:1) to give two diastereomers
of the corresponding product 4r with ratio of 1.7:1 (31.2 mg 57%) as yellow oil; 1H-NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 1.16–1.20 (m, 6H), 1.40–1.70 (m, 8H), 1.73–1.89 (m, 4H), 3.40–3.46 (m, 1H), 3.48–3.54 (m,
1H), 3.83–3.86 (m, 1H), 3.99–4.02 (m, 1H), 4.09–4.23 (m, 6H), 4.46 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H), 4.47 (d,
J = 9.2 Hz, 1H), 7.44–7.50 (m, 4H), 7.54–7.61 (m, 2H), 8.01–8.05 (m, 4H); 13C-NMR (75 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 14.0, 23.1, 23.2, 25.8, 25.8, 29.7, 29.9, 59.9, 60.7, 61.4, 61.5, 68.8, 68.9, 76.9, 77.1, 128.6,
128.8, 133.3, 133.8, 136.4, 136.6, 137.2, 167.2, 167.8, 192.7, 193.7.
Diisopropyl 2-(4-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenylsulfonamido)butyl)malonate (5n). THF 1a (2 mL) was
added to PhI=NTs (186 mg, 0.50 mmol) in a 5 mL round-bottomed flask and stirred for 50 min at

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room temperature. The solvent was then removed under reduced pressure and the flask back filled with
N2(g). To the crude mixture, diisopropyl malonate 3n (0.19 mL, 1.0 mmol) and DBU (8 μL, 0.05 mmol)
and PhMe (2 mL) were subsequently added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 18 h.
Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC analysis, the crude mixture was purified by flash
column chromatography (n-hexane/EtOAc, 1:1) to give the corresponding product 5n (50.5 mg, 25%)
as white solid; mp 108–114 °C; 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 1.18 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 6H), 1.23 (d, J = 6.0 Hz,
6H), 1.37–1.56 (m, 2H), 1.65 (q, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 3.48 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 3.51–3.54 (m,
2H), 3.87–3.94 (m, 1H), 4.86–4.92 (m, 1H), 4.99 (m, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 5.03 (m, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 5.71
(d, J = 9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.75 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ
21.4, 21.5, 21.5, 21.6, 21.6, 28.7, 29.6, 53.1, 55.2, 61.8, 69.4, 69.7, 127.0, 129.6, 138.4, 143.3, 167.0,
167.6; IR (NaCl, neat) ν 3362, 3310, 2983, 2936, 1732, 1722, 1599 cm−1; HRMS (ESI) calcd for
C20H32NO7S [M + H]+ 430.1899, found 430.1892.
4. Conclusions
In summary, a mild transition metal-free cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) synthetic route to
2-tetrahydrofuran and –pyran substituted 1,3-carbonyl compounds from commercially available cyclic
ethers and 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives has been developed. Achieved in moderate to excellent yields of
32%–80%, the synthetic method was shown to tolerate β-ketoesters, dialkyl malonates and 1,3-diones,
which complements and supplements the existing transition metal approaches. The present method also
shows the promising utility of other hypervalent iodine reagents other than diaryliodonium salts for
transition metal-free CDC reactions. Further exploration on the utility of iminoiodanes is currently underway.
Supplementary Materials
Supplementary materials can be accessed at: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/07/13336/s1.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Start-Up Grants from the School of Chemistry, Monash University,
and Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, and a Tier 1 Grant (MOE2013-T1-002-035)
from the Ministry of Education of Singapore. We thank Yongxin Li (Nanyang Technological
Univeristy) for providing the X-ray crystallographic data reported in this work.
Author Contributions
C.T., X.R.S., B.R.L. and B.J.A. performed the synthetic experiments and analyzed the data. C.-H.L.
and D.-L.M. analyzed the data. P.W.H.C. conceived, designed and supervised the study. All the
authors contributed to the writing of the paper and supplementary materials.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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