Highly substituted furans from 2-propynyl-1,3-dicarbonyls and organic halides or triflates via the oxypalladation-reductive elimination domino reaction

The palladium-catalysed reaction of 2-propynyl-1,3-dicarbonyls with organic halides or triflates provides an efficient straightforward entry into highly substituted furans. The best results have been obtained by using an excess of the alkyne. The process can tolerate a wide variety of important functional groups both on the alkyne and the organic halide or triflate. Under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide, the reaction affords furan derivatives incorporating carbon monoxide. Depending on the alkyne to organic halide or triflate ratio, acyl furans (incorporating one molecule of carbon monoxide) or enol esters (incorporating two molecules of carbon monoxide) can be isolated as the main products.