Functionalized methyl cis-4-oxoalk-2-enoates 2 are synthesized in a one-pot procedure by singlet oxygen oxygenation of the corresponding 2-methoxyfurans 1 in methanol and reduction of the resulting hydroperoxides 4 and 5 by the sulfides 6 which are selectively oxidized into the sulfoxides 7. The synthetic method has a wide range of applicability and affords compounds 2 stereoselectively and in good yields; concomitantly the sulfoxides 7 are obtained in excellent yields.
A further selective pathway in thermal conversion of 2,5-epidioxy-2-alkoxy-2,5-dihydrofurans (2-alkoxyfuran endo-peroxides). Synthesis of the first 5-hydroperoxyfuran-2(5H)-ones
Thermal conversion of the epidioxydihydrofurans 1 leads, via dioxetanes 3, to the stereoisomeric dimers 4 which have a structural relationship with antitumour cyclic peroxides and represent convenient starting materials for several multifunctional compounds; their mild acid hydrolysis provides a convenient entry to the synthesis of the furanone derivatives 7 and 8 which are structurally related to biologically active products.