Enantioselective hydrogenation of furans and benzofurans remains a challenging task. We report the hydrogenation of 2‐ and 3‐substituted furans by using iridium catalysts that bear bicyclic pyridine–phosphinite ligands. Excellent enantioselectivities and high conversions were obtained for monosubstituted furans with a 3‐alkyl or 3‐aryl group. Furans substituted at the 2‐position and 2,4‐disubstitutedfurans proved
Cyclic ethers have been effectively synthesized via the intramolecular cyclization of diols using trimethyl phosphate and NaH. The present cyclization could proceed at room temperature to produce 5–7 membered cyclic ethers in good to excellent yields. Substrates possessing a chiral secondary hydroxy group were transformed into the corresponding chiral cyclic ethers along with the retention of their