A convenient synthetic route to furan esters and lactones by palladium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation or cyclocarbonylation of hydroxyl-substituted 3-iodofurans

An effective palladium-catalyzed protocol for the intermolecular carboalkoxylation or intramolecular cyclocarbonylation of hydroxyl-substituted 3-iodofurans under carbon monoxide pressure has been developed. The 3-iodofurans are readily prepared by iodocyclization of 2-(1-alkynyl)-2-alken-1-ones in the presence of various diols.