Zinc-catalyzed [4+3] cycloaddition with concomitant furan annulation: formation of cyclohepta[b]furans.

A convenient zinc-promoted [4+3] cycloaddition of a carbonyl ene-yne with simple dienes was first achieved. This reaction provided an efficient strategy to prepare various cyclohepta[b]furan rings by cascade cycloadditions. Additionally, a multicomponent reaction of dione, alkynal, and diene was also reported, which exhibited a novel strategy for selective creations of C-O bonds and C-C bonds.