Enantioselective total synthesis of furofuran lignans via Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic cycloadditon of vinylethylene carbonates with 2-nitroacrylates.

Herein, a practical and efficient approach to tetrahydrofurans with three-stereocenters has been developed through Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic cycloaddition of vinylethylene carbonates (VECs) with 2-nitroacrylates under mild conditions. By using this asymmetric catalytic reaction as a key step, several furofuran lignans with stereodivergency have been effectively synthesized through 5- or 6-step sequences from readily available starting materials.