Copper(II)-catalyzed highly diastereoselective three-component reactions of aryl diazoacetates with alcohols and chalcones: an easy access to furan derivatives

Copper(II) complexes are efficient catalysts in three-component reactions of aryl diazoacetates with alcohols and chalcones to give gamma-hydroxyketone derivatives in high yield with excellent diastereoselectivity. The resulting coupling adducts can be easily converted into furan-containing oligoaryls, tetrahydrofuran and 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives.