Direct oxidative coupling of enamides and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds: a facile and versatile approach to dihydrofurans, furans, pyrroles, and dicarbonyl enamides.

An efficient manganese(III)-mediated oxidative coupling reaction between α-aryl enamides and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds has been developed. A series of dihydrofurans and dicarbonyl enamides were synthesized in moderate to good yields. Moreover, these dihydrofurans could be readily transformed into the corresponding furans and pyrroles via the Paal-Knorr reaction.