Boron trifluoride-tetrahydrofuran complex: a superior trigger for the Yamaguchi-Hirao alkylation of lithio-acetylides by epoxides

Use of (BF3THF)-T-. complex in place of the usual (BF3OEt2)-O-. analogue in the Yamaguchi-Hirao alkylation of lithio- acetylides 2 by monosubstituted epoxides 3 gives consistently superior isolated yields (ca. 90%) of homopropargylic alcohols 1. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.