Intramolecular oxygen radical additions to α,β-unsaturated esters. Diastereoselective tandem cyclofunctionalization and hydrogen transfer reactions

The efficiency of a tandem process featuring an oxy radical cyclization and hydrogen transfer reaction of the resultant carbon-based radical has been demonstrated. This methodology affords 2,3- trans -disubstituted tetrahydrofurans by creating two new contiguous stereogenic centers with high levels of 1,2-induction in each step.