Pt-catalyzed rearrangement of oxaspirohexanes to 3-methylenetetrahydrofurans: scope and mechanism.

A novel Pt-catalyzed rearrangement of oxaspirohexanes to 3-methylenetetrahydrofurans is reported. Mechanistic studies by (13)C-labeling experiments confirm oxidative addition of Pt(II) regioselectively to the least substituted carbon-carbon bond of the cyclopropane to form a platinacyclobutane intermediate. To our knowledge, this is the first alkoxy-substituted platinacyclobutane that has been observed spectroscopically. The scope and a proposed mechanism of this new Pt-catalyzed transformation are described.