The propensity of oxoammonium cations to facilitate the oxidative ring-opening of cyclic ethers to their corresponding distal hydroxy ketones is investigated. The reaction has been evaluated using experimental and computational methods to gain deeper insight into trends in reactivity.

A simple, high yielding, two‐step, one‐pot protocol for the preparation of trifluoromethyl‐substituted vinylcyclopropanes from α‐CF3 homoallyl alcohols is disclosed. Destabilization of the cationic intermediate by the electron‐withdrawing CF3 group greatly enhances neighboring group participation of the alkene, allowing ring closure to predominate. The reaction can be extended to the difluoromethyl and pentafluoroethyl group, enabling the preparation of a diverse array of fluoroalkyl‐substituted vinylcyclopropanes.

The limited substrate scope of the title reaction with regard to the ethers′ ring size and aryl substituents is evidenced by elucidation of the reaction mechanism by DFT calculations.