Abstract
A modified Feist-Benary furan synthesis has been developed that involves a lithium aldol reaction between a methyl ketone and an alpha-chloroaldehyde followed by a thermally induced tetrahydrofuran formation/dehydration sequence and affords 2,5-disubstituted furans in good overall yield. This process is demonstrated on multigram scale and is amenable to the production of symmetric or asymmetric furans that incorporate a range of substituents (e. g., aryl, tert-butyl, ferrocenyl).