Synthesis of α-di or trisubstituted (tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methanols via photoinduced additive-free intermolecular addition of THF to aromatic aldehydes or ketones

Abstract THF is found to react with aromatic aldehydes or ketones highly chemoselectively under the irradiation of ultraviolet without any additives, which provides a new protocol to access α-di or trisubstituted (tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methanols. The scope of this reaction is well studied.