Abstract The condensation of 2, 3-dihydrobenzoxasilepins with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of boron trifluoride to form 2, 3-dihydrobenzofurans shows a level of diastereoselection which is a function of the electronic nature of the aldehyde and the polarity of the solvent. The study of the mechanism of the reaction demonstrated that it proceeds through a ring-opened allylfluorosilane, which is stable enough to be isolated ...
