Facile synthesis of 3,4-dihalofurans via electrophilic iodocyclization.
A facile, efficient, and general synthetic method for 3,4-dihalofurans has been developed via the electrophilic iodocyclization of various 4-hydroxy-2-but-2-yn-1-ones. The use of MeOH as a solvent is crucial for the efficient chemoselective synthesis of the corresponding 3,4-dihalofurans.