Iodoetherification of unactivated alkenes catalyzed by diphosphine palladium(II) complexes

A palladium-catalyzed intramolecular iodoetherification of alkenes is reported. The reaction is efficient and highly diastereoselective for disubstituted alkenes. The tether length between the alcohol and alkene can be varied to produce tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran rings. Diphosphine palladium(II) salts are highly active catalysts enabling future studies on the development of an enantioselective process. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.