Carbonylation of Alkynyl Epoxides: Synthesis of 5-Hydroxy-2,3-dienoate Esters and 2,3-Dihydrofuran-3-ol Derivatives.

The carbonylation of alkynyl oxiranes catalyzed by (MePh(2))(4)Pd in the presence of 20 atm of carbon monoxide in methanol gives methyl 5-hydroxy-2,3-pentadienoates in good yields. When the reaction is performed on alkynyl oxiranemethanol derivatives, 4,5-dihydrofuran-3-ol derivatives are obtained stereoselectively. These products arise from the spontaneous cyclization of a dihydroxyallenyl ester intermediate.