Chiral Phosphine-Silver(I) Complex Catalyzed Enantioselective Interrupted Feist-Bénary Reaction with Ynones: The Aldol-Cycloisomerization Cascade.

Silver-catalyzed interrupted Feist-Bénary reaction is described for the efficient enantioselective synthesis of dihydrofuran heterocycles. A new method has been developed for the silver(I)-(R)-BINAP complex mediated aldol-cycloisomerization cascade reaction between ynones and 1,3-diketones to provide functionalized dihydrofurans with moderate to good yields (up to 95%) and good to excellent enantiomeric excess (up to 98%). The presence of an exocyclic double bond and hydroxy group in the dihydrofuran products provides wide scope for further structural manipulation.