Palladium Catalyzed Reaction of Alkyl 5-Bromo-2-Furoate With Allylic Alcohols: A Convenient Synthesis of 2-(3′-Oxoalkyl)furans

Alkyl 5-bromo-2-furoate reacts with allylic alcohols in the presence of 1 mol% of palladium acetate to give 1-(5′-alkoxycarbonyl-2′-furyl)-3-oxoalkanes (3) selectively, together with small amounts of 1- (5′-alkoxycarbonyl-2′-furyl)-2-oxoalkanes (4). The reaction (regio-selectivity and reactivity) largely depends on the structure of allylic alcohols.