A new approach to the synthesis of 1-oxaspiro[4.n]alkanes and tetrahydrofurans by the 1,5-CH insertion reaction of magnesium carbenoids

1-Alkoxy-1-[2-chloro-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)ethyl]cycloalkanes were prepared from various cyclic ketones in good overall yields. Treatment of these cycloalkanes bearing a sulfinyl group with i-PrMgCl resulted in the formation of 1-oxaspiro[4.n]alkanes in high to quantitative yields via the 1,5-CH insertion reaction of generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates. When this procedure was commenced with acyclic ketones, multi-substituted tetrahydrofurans were obtained in up to a 96% yield. This procedure provides a new and good way for the synthesis of 1-oxaspiro[4.n]alkanes and tetrahydrofurans with the formation of a carbon–carbon bond between a carbenoid carbon and a non-activated carbon in high yields. The oxygen atom in the magnesium carbenoid intermediates was proved to act very important roles in the 1,5-CH insertion reaction.