One-Pot Synthesis of 2,5-Disubstituted Furans through In Situ Formation of Allenes and Enolization Cascade

Abstract

A one-pot synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted furans from γ-ketoacids is reported. In situ formation of allenoates by action of chloroformate on carboxylic acid following by enolization of ketone affords furan derivatives by cyclization. The reaction was extended to a wide scope of ketoacids and phosphonium salts. This methodology was applied on levulinic acid and derivatives, one of the biosourced platform chemicals.