Square, London ECI V OHBB enz h y d ry I , pn it ro benzy I , and pival oy loxymet h y I esters of 6diazo penci I la n ic acid u nderg o rhodiumcatalysed reactions with furan giving 6-(4'-oxobut-2-enylidene) penicillanates in high yields. Substitution on the furan ring results in a strong steric effect at the 2-position and reveals the detrimental effects of electron-withdrawing groups at positions 2 and 3. The absence of a marked steric effect in 3-methylfuran indicates that the reaction does not involve initial, direct cyclopropanation, contrary t o earlier claims. Addition of the 6-diazopenicillanate to benzofuran provides the first reported example of a carbenoid ring expansion of the latter.