Stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans by radical cyclisation reaction using a hypophosphite salt. Application to the total synthesis of (±)-dihydrosesamin

The stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans has been achieved from bromoalkynes and bromoalkenes by intramolecular radical cyclisation using a hypophosphite salt. This radical cyclisation strategy has successfully been applied to the total synthesis of a naturally occurring bioactive furanolignan, dihydrosesamin.