Synthesis 2009(14): 2454-2466  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1216867
FEATUREARTICLE
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Syntheses of Substituted Furans and Pyrroles by Platinum-Catalyzed Cyclizations of Propargylic Oxiranes and Aziridines in Aqueous Media

Masahiro Yoshida*, Mohammad Al-Amin, Kozo Shishido
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
Fax: +81(88)6337294; e-Mail: yoshida@ph.tokushima-u.ac.jp;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 11 May 2009
Publication Date:
26 June 2009 (online)

Abstract

The reactions of propargylic oxiranes and aziridines with a platinum catalyst in aqueous media are described. Furans having a variety of substituents were conveniently synthesized by the platinum-catalyzed reaction of propargylic oxiranes. The reaction in the presence of N-iodosuccinimide afforded the 3-iodo-substituted furan, which was further functionalized to tetrasubstituted furans with high efficiency. Propargylic aziridines were also reacted with the platinum catalyst to produce the corresponding substituted pyrroles in good yields.

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Hashmi also reported the conversion of 1i using a gold catalyst, in which the reaction was complete in 17 h affording 2i in 80% yield; see ref 4h.