Novel intermolecular and intramolecular generations of ortho-quinone methides and their formal [4+2]-cycloaddition reactions with olefins catalyzed by PtCl4 and AuCl3 under mild conditions have been developed. Good to excellent yields (up to 99%) and diastereoselectivity (up to >99:1) of the chromans were obtained. PtCl4 was found to be effective and compatible with various functional groups present
2-Arylchromans were readily prepared from the hetero-Diels−Alder reactions of styrenes with the ortho-quinonemethides (o-QMs) which, in turn, were generated by treating the MOM-protected benzylacetate derivatives with p-TsOH immobilized on silica (PTS-Si) in toluene under mild conditions (0 °C to rt). The corresponding chromans were obtained in moderate to excellent yields (42−97%) and in moderate