Abstract: A series of 2-aryloxyenones 5a-u is prepared by reaction of the appropriate phenol with isophorone epoxide and base in refluxing tetrahydrofuran-hexamethylphosphoramide solution. Photocyclization-rearrangement of 5 gives dihydrofurans I7 in high yield. The effect of substituents on the aromatic ring on photocyclization is noted. As with aryl vinyl sulfides, fused ring aryloxyenones derived from octalone epoxides give photoproducts with only a ...
