A novel protocol for a copper-catalyzed cascade cross-coupling/cyclization strategy utilizing silyl enolates has been developed, enabling the direct and highly regioselective construction of valuable 2,3,5-trisubstituted furans. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that the reaction process involves a tandem carbon-carbon radical cross-coupling, formal 1,2-hydrogen migration, intramolecular Paal-Knorr cyclization, and aromatization. This protocol eliminates the necessity for initial 1,4-diketone preparation and demonstrates a broad substrate scope along with good functional group compatibility.
Gao et al. (Mon,) studied this question.