Advanced Synthesis of Dihydrofurans. Effect of Formic Acid on the Mn(III)-Based Oxidation

The Mn(III)-based oxidation of a tertiary alkylamine, such as nitrilotris(ethane-2,1-diyl) tris(3-oxobutanoate) (1) with 1,1-diphenylethene (2a), effectively proceeded in an acetic acid–formic acid mixed solvent to give nitrilotris(ethane-2,1-diyl) tris(2-methyl-5,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylate) (3). Other typical Mn(III)-based reactions of various β-diketo esters 4a–e, 2,4-pentanedione (6a), malonic acid (6b), and diethyl malonate (6c) with 1,1-diarylthenes 2a-d were also investigated in a similar acetic acid–formic acid mixed solvent and it was recognized that the reaction rate was accelerated and the product yield increased