A metathesis-based approach to the synthesis of furans.

The enol ether-olefin ring-closing metathesis reaction has been employed to generate 2,3-dihydrofurans that are equipped with a leaving group. These substrates are at the correct oxidation state to undergo an acid-catalyzed aromatization, and this strategy has been utilized to provide a mild and rapid route (four steps) to a range of novel 2,5-disubstituted furans. [reaction: see text]