Reaction of Benzyne with Styrene Oxide: Insertion of Arynes into a C-O Bond of Epoxides

Benzyne inserts into one of the C-O bonds of styrene ­oxide to form a dihydrobenzofuran as the major product together with five other reaction products. A detailed study of the reaction mixture clarified an intriguing forty-year-old personal communication from Stiles and Haag.