An unprecedented reductive (3 + 2)
annulation of both symmetrical
and unsymmetrical benzils with pyrylium salts mediated by P(NMe2)3 is described, leading to facile and stereoselective
access to the challenging cis-chalcones decorated
by various substituted furyl rings under mild conditions. Rather than
the extensively studied C1 synthons, the Kukhtin–Ramirez adducts
derived from benzils serve as the underexplored C3 synthons in this
(3 + 2) annulation with the 2,3-double bond of the 2,6-disubstituted
pyrylium ions.