Stereoselective Synthesis of <i>cis</i>- and <i>trans</i>-2,3-Disubstituted Tetrahydrofurans via Oxonium−Prins Cyclization: Access to the Cordigol Ring System

SnBr4-promoted oxonium−Prins cyclizations to form 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs) are reported. In the absence of an internal nucleophile, the carbocation intermediates are trapped by bromide to give 2,3-cis- and 2,3-trans-configured products; two variations with intramolecular trapping are also reported. One of these allows a single-step stereocontrolled synthesis of the core 2,3-cis-THF ring system of cordigol, a fungicidal polyphenol from the stem bark of Cordia goetzei. For this latter transformation, a stepwise oxonium−Prins/cation trapping pathway rather than orthoquinonemethide formation/hetero-Diels−Alder cycloaddition is supported computationally.