Metal-free domino Cloke-Wilson rearrangement-hydration-dimerization of cyclopropane carbaldehydes: A facile access to oxybis(2-aryltetrahydrofuran) derivatives

Abstract

In this work, we have demonstrated a metal-free transformation of cyclopropane carbaldehydes to oxybis(2-aryltetrahydrofuran) derivatives via a domino Cloke-Wilson rearrangement-hydration-dimerization sequence. Commercially inexpensive p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) was used as a Brønsted acid catalyst, and reactions were conducted in an open-flask. Detection of reaction intermediates were carried to get an insight into the reaction pathway.