Michael addition to trans-enediones: a facile route to 2,3,4,5-tetra-substituted furans
Abstract
The enediones (2) are useful starting materials for a two-step synthesis of tetrasubstituted furans, which are not otherwise easily available. Michael addition of active methylene compounds to the enediones (2) led to the two regioisomeric adducts (8) and (9), which then cyclized to furans under very mild conditions.