Lithium tetrafluoroborate efficiently catalyzes an unusual cyclization of o
-hydroxybenzaldimines with 2,3-dihydrofuran and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran at amb
ient temperature to afford a class of new pyrano- and furanobenzopyran deri
vatives in excellent yields with high diastereo selectivity. (C) 2001 Elsev
ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.