Treatment of homoallylic alcohols or carboxylic acids with malonoyl peroxide 1 provides a stereoselective method for the preparation of tetrahydrofurans, γ-lactones, and isobenzofuranones in 44-82% yield and up to 27:1 trans selectivity. Application of this simple and effective heterocyclization in the synthesis of the antidepressant citalopram is also described.
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