A platinum complex-catalyzed reaction of 3-chloro-1,3-diene monoepoxides with carbon nucleophiles involving nucleophilic substitution at the central carbon atom of the pi-allyl ligand in the intermediate complex. Dependency of regioselectivity upon the added Lewis acids

The reaction of 3-chloro-1,3-diene monoepoxides with sodium ethyl acetoacet ate in the presence of a catalytic amount of platinum(0) complex resulted i n the formation of furan derivatives. The key feature of this new platinum- catalyzed reaction is the nucleophilic substitution at the central carbon a tom of the (pi-allyl) complexes, which are formed as intermediates. Then cy clization follows to give furans. Different regio isomers were obtained by changing the Lewis acid added. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.