Arenes and heteroarenes carrying a halogen and an amino- or hydroxy group have been converted to allylamino- or allyloxy-furyl-(hetero)arenes. These compounds underwent IMDAF reactions to give complex fused polycyclic heterocycles. The reactivity of the substrates was highly dependent on the detailed substitution pattern, however cyclizations occurred with high stereoselectivity in most cases. Experimental findings regarding reactivity and stereoselectivity were supported by calculations. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.