Enzyme- and Ruthenium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Transformation of α-Allenic Alcohols into 2,3-Dihydrofurans

Abstract

An efficient one-pot method for the enzyme- and ruthenium-catalyzed enantioselective transformation of α-allenic alcohols into 2,3-dihydrofurans has been developed. The method involves an enzymatic kinetic resolution and a subsequent ruthenium-catalyzed cycloisomerization, which provides 2,3-dihydrofurans with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99 % ee). A ruthenium carbene species was proposed as a key intermediate in the cycloisomerization.