Diastereoselective synthesis of 2-aryl-3-vinyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furans through a Sakurai reaction: a mechanistic proposal

Chemistry. 2007;13(2):557-68. doi: 10.1002/chem.200601017.

Abstract

The condensation of 2,3-dihydrobenzoxasilepins with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of boron trifluoride to form 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans shows a level of diastereoselection which is a function of the electronic nature of the aldehyde and the polarity of the solvent. The study of the mechanism of the reaction demonstrated that it proceeds through a ring-opened allylfluorosilane, which is stable enough to be isolated and characterized.