Reaction of alkyl 5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates with zinc enolates prepared from zinc and 1-arul-2-bromo-2-phenylethanones, 2 bromoindanone, and 2-bromo-6-methyltetralone

Alkyl 5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates react with zinc enolates prepared from 1-aryl-2-bromo-2-phenylethanones, 2-bromo indanone, 2-bromo-6-methyltetralone and zinc with formation of ethyl 4-(2-aryl-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylates, alkyl 5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-4-(1-oxoindan-2-yl)tetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylates, and ethyl 5,5-dimethyl-4-(6-methyl-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)-2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylates respectively, mainly as single diastereomers.