A novel method for the synthesis of highly substituted iodine-containing furans has
been developed by the cyclization of 1-(arylethynyl)-2,3-epoxy alcohols (1-aryl-4,5-epoxyalk-1-yn-3-ols)
with alcohols as nucleophiles under very mild reaction conditions. The resulting iodine-containing
furans can be readily elaborated to more complex products using known organopalladium
chemistry.
iodofuran - tandem reaction - epoxide - electrophilic cyclization