Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of 2,3-Dihydrofuran to Access α-Arylated Tetrahydrofurans

The alpha-arylated tetrahydrofurans, commonly found in biologically active molecules, exhibit diverse biological activities and pharmacological effects. The functionalization of 2,3-dihydrofuran offers a potential route for the synthesis of substituted tetrahydrofurans. Nevertheless, the development of earth-abundant metal-catalyzed regioselective hydrofunctionalization of 2,3-dihydrofuran for the synthesis of substituted tetrahydrofurans remains to be pursued. Herein, we report a cobalt-catalyzed hydroarylation of 2,3-dihydrofuran, which serves as the first example of cobalt hydride-catalyzed alkene hydroarylation. This reaction provides an efficient method for the synthesis of alpha-arylated tetrahydrofurans with high reaction efficiency, exclusive alpha-arylation selectivity, and remarkable functional group compatibility.