Synthesis of oxathiane and morpholine from acyclic precursors: a modified Mitsunobu reaction

Synthesis of a set of isomeric 2,4,6-triarylmorpholines and 2,6-diaryloxathianes from the corresponding 1,5-diols has been described. The method provides an efficient route to six-membered heterocycles from acyclic diols and is found to be better than Mitsunobu procedure in yield and waste management. In a related study, the ring contraction of pyranone to two isomeric cyclopentenone derivatives through Nazarov reaction has been noticed.