A facile metal-free one-flask synthesis of multi-substituted furans via a BF(3)·Et(2)O mediated formal [4 + 1] reaction of 3-chloro-3-phenyldiazirines and α,β-alkenyl ketones

A facile, efficient and metal free one-flask approach to diversely substituted furans from easily accessible 3-chloro-3-phenyldiazirines and α,β-alkenyl ketones is reported. This protocol integrates three steps of cyclopropanation, Cloke–Wilson rearrangement and elimination of HCl in one-flask to give products in moderate to good yields. It provides a metal and oxidant free approach to multi-substituted furans with the advantages of easy operation, mild reaction conditions and a broad scope of substrates.