2,5-Disubstituted furans from 1,4-alkynediols

1-4-Alkynediols serve as readily available starting materials for isomerisation to 1,4-diketones, which can be converted in situ into the corresponding furans by acid-catalysed dehydration. A range of 2,5-disubstituted furans was prepared using the ruthenium-based catalyst Ru(PPh3)(3)(CO)H-2 with Xantphos at 1 mol % loading. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.