CuI mediated synthesis of sulfonyl dihydrofurans

Abstract CuI mediated one-pot (3+2) annulation of β-ketosulfones 2 with styryl alcohol 3 in DMSO affords sulfonyl dihydrofurans 4 in good to excellent yields via a sequential intermolecular α-styrylation followed by intramolecular iodoetherification. The styrylative iodocyclization route provides a highly effective condition. A plausible mechanism has been studied and proposed.