Regioselective and stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans from a functionalized allylic silane and an aldehyde via formal [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction

Allylsilanes are known as useful reagents for the stereoselective formation of ring systems. Previous studies have shown that tetrahydrofurans can be constructed via formal [3+2]-cycloadditions of aldehydes and allylsilanes. A new challenge is to understand the intermediate, after a nucleophile attacks a carbonyl activated by the Lewis acid, in which two silyl-protected alkoxy groups with chemical equivalency could undergo formal cycloaddition reaction to afford a disubstituted and/or a trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran. Preparation of the protected α-hydroxy aldehyde and a functionalized allylic silane is discussed, as well as their formal cycloaddition reaction to form tetrahydrofurans.