Cu-Catalyzed Oxidative C(sp²)–H Cycloetherification of o-Alkenyl Arenols for the Preparation of Fused Furans

Abstract

A practically efficient, copper-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of functionally embellished indeno-naphthofurans is developed from 1-(1H-inden-3-yl)naphthalen-2-ols. This intramolecular cycloetherification proceeds via C(sp 2 )−H oxygenation (C−H bond breaking and C−O bond forming), which enables the atom-economical synthesis of poly fused furans in high yields with large substrate diversity in the open air.