Facile access to 2,5-disubstituted-4-chloromethyl-3-iodofuran derivatives via ICl-mediated cyclization of 1-alkyl-2-alkynylallylic alcohols

Substituted furans are conveniently synthesized from acyclic secondary 1-alkyl-2-alkynylallylic alcohol precursors via an ICl-promoted cyclization reaction. The furans generated by this method incorporate both iodine and chlorine atoms which may be useful for further elaborations via many known methods. The methodology is suitable for generating a wide array of furan products which can serve as useful building blocks for the synthesis of various biologically active molecules.