Chelation-control in the formal [3+3] cyclization of 1,3-bis-(silyloxy)-1,3-butadienes with 1-hydroxy-5-silyloxy-hex-4-en-3-ones. One-pot synthesis of 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins

The [3+3] cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyloxy)-1,3-butadienes with 1-hydroxy-5-silyloxy-hex-4-en-3-ones resulted in the one-pot formation of 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins. The reactions proceeded by regioselective cyclization to give 6-(2-aryl-2-chloroethyl)salicylates, which underwent a silica gel-mediated lactonization. The cyclizations of protected 1-amino-5-silyloxy-hex-4-en-3-ones proved to be not regioselective.