A facile domino protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of trans-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and cis-5,6-dihydrofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidines

A facile protocol for the stereoselective construction of trans-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and cis-5,6-dihydrofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidines from the reactions of 2,2′-sulfonylbis(1,3-diarylprop-2-en-1-ones) with cyclic 1,3-diketones, viz. cyclohexane-1,3-diones, barbituric acid, and 2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione in the presence of DBU in ethanol is described. This transformation presumably occurs via domino Michael addition-proton exchange-annulation via intramolecular displacement sequence.