CAN-promoted, diastereoselective synthesis of fused 2,3-dihydrofurans and their transformation into tetrahydroindoles

The reaction between 1,3-cyclohexanediones and chalcones (or their vinilogs) in the presence of 2.5 equiv of cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate afforded trans-2-arylcarbonyl-3-aryl (or styryl)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuran-4(5H)-ones in good to excellent yields and in high diastereoselectivities. The method was also extended to the preparation of derivatives of the 5,6-dihydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-4(3H)-one system. The fused 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives were transformed into 1-alkyl-2-acyl-3-aryl-6,7-dihydroindole-4(5H)-ones by 2,3-dehydrogenation followed by reaction with primary amines. The direct reaction of the tetrahydrobenzofuran-4(5H)-one compounds derived from dimedone with amines gave 1-alkyl-2-alkylimino-3-aryl-6,7-dihydroindole-4(5H)-ones, while starting materials derived from 1,3-cyclohexanedione underwent an unprecedented 2-deacylation reaction and gave 1-alkyl-3-aryl-6,7-dihydroindole-4(5H)-ones.