A Novel Synthesis of Protoanemonin by the Catalytic Vapour‐Phase Oxidation of Silvan.

The vapour-phase oxidation of 2-methylfuran (silvan) in air over vanadium-molybdenum oxide catalysts under specific conditions was unexpectedly found to afford 5-methylenefuran-2(5H)-one (protoanemonin) which is otherwise difficult to obtain.