Facile syntheses of substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans and benzofurans by palladium-catalyzed reactions of propargylic carbonates with nucleophiles

Substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans and benzofurans are synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed reaction of 5-methoxycarbonyloxy-3-pentyn-1-ols and 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methoxycarbonyloxy-1-propyne with nucleophiles, respectively. Various substituted propargylic carbonates and nucleophiles are efficiently transformed to their corresponding products. Additionally, a reaction using substrates containing a nucleophilic phenoxy group within the same molecule also produces the corresponding dihydrofuran.