Iron-catalyzed tandem cyclization of olefinic dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic Csp³-H bonds for the synthesis of dihydrofurans

A novel iron-catalyzed radical cyclization of olefinic dicarbonyl compounds with benzyl hydrocarbons has been developed. This protocol provides ready access to a variety of dihydrofurans containing a quaternary carbon center in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, this reaction could also be further expanded to other types of substrates containing unactivated Csp³-H bonds, such as ethers and alkanes.