Bromoetherification of Alkenyl Alcohols by Aerobic Oxidation of Bromide: Asymmetric Synthesis of 2‐Bromomethyl 5‐Substituted Tetrahydrofurans

Abstract An asymmetric synthesis of 2‐bromomethyl‐5‐substituted tetrahydrofurans via a chiral‐ruthenium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of 3‐butenyl ketones and bromoetherification of chiral pentenyl alcohols was developed. The inhibition of some side reactions furnished the desired products in high yields with high enantioselectivities. In addition, chiral pentenyl alcohols bearing electron‐donating groups triggered substrate racemization in the aerobic bromoetherification. magnified image