Synthesis of 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecanes and 1-oxa-7-thiaspiro[5.5]undecanes from exo-glycal

A new spirocyclization was developed for the synthesis of 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecanes and 1-oxa-7-thiaspiro[5.5]undecanes by reaction of exo-glycal with aryl alcohols or thiophenols in the presence of Lewis acid BF3·OEt2. The reaction proceeded through tandem Ferrier rearrangement, glycosylation, and Friedel-Crafts alkylation to provide the corresponding products in good to excellent yields.