Cyclic ether synthesis from diols using trimethyl phosphate

Abstract

Cyclic ethers have been effectively synthesized via the intramolecular cyclization of diols using trimethyl phosphate and NaH. The present cyclization could proceed at room temperature to produce 5–7 membered cyclic ethers in good to excellent yields. Substrates possessing a chiral secondary hydroxy group were transformed into the corresponding chiral cyclic ethers along with the retention of their stereochemistries.