Mild Approach to 2-Acylfurans via Intercepted Meyer-Schuster Rearrangement of 6-Hydroxyhex-2-en-4-ynals

We have developed a mild, intramolecular intercepted Meyer-Schuster (M-S) rearrangement for the synthesis of 2-acylfurans from corresponding cis-6-hydroxyhex-2-en-4-ynals. This reaction was found to be very general, and the starting materials are easily accessible. By this methodology the first synthesis of deoxy-nor-abiesesquine B, a sesquiterpene, was also achieved in three steps. The concept of adding two nucleophiles during the M-S rearrangement was introduced.