Silicon-assisted ring opening of donor-acceptor substituted cyclopropanes. An expedient entry to substituted dihydrofurans

Abstract

(Equation presented) (tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl)methylcyclopropanes undergo ring opening to furnish substituted dihydrofurans in good to excellent yields on treatment with TiCl4 in dichoromethane. The silicon that assists the regioselective ring opening is retained in the product to allow further functional group manipulations.