Bi(III) halides as efficient catalysts for the O-acylative cleavage of tetrahydrofurans: an expeditious entry to tetralins

The mild (DCM/20 °C), quantitative, regioselective, O-acylative cleavage of tetrahydrofurans using organic acid halides with catalytic Bi(III) halides is reported. X-ray crystallography is used to rationalise the failure of the reaction in the case of certain crowded acid chlorides, and a useful aspect of chemoselectivity is revealed. The synthetic potential of this reaction is illustrated with a highly efficient O-acylative cleavage/intramolecular alkylation approach to tetralins.