Abstract The previously developed enantioselective iodocyclization of γ-hydroxy-cis-alkenes required 30 mol% of (R, R)-salen–Co II complex as chiral catalyst and 0.75 equivalent of N- chlorosuccinimide (NCS) as activator to produce 2-substituted tetrahydrofurans with 61 to 90% ee. Due to the considerable loading amount of the Co II complex, another more effective catalyst was pursued by screening (R, R)-salen–transition metal complexes. ...