New Cyclotrimerization of Aldehydes to Cyclopentenone or Tetrahydrofuran Induced by Dibromotriphenylphosphorane.

alpha-Mono- or alpha-dialkylated aldehydes undergo cyclotrimerization in the presence of dibromotriphenylphosphorane (PPh(3)Br(2)) to afford cyclopentenones or tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans in good yields. These transformations proceed by a tandem aldol dimerization/Nazarov reaction or a tandem aldol dimerization/Prins cyclization.