Successive Promotion of Formal [3+2] Cycloaddition of Aryl Methyl Ketones by I2 and Zn: Access to 2-Hydroxy-4-morpholin-2,5-diarylfuran-3(2H)-ones with a Quaternary Carbon Center.

2-Hydroxy-4-morpholin-2,5-diarylfuran-3(2H)-one derivatives were constructed sequentially using iodine and zinc dust from simple and readily available methyl ketone and morpholine as the starting materials. Under mild conditions, C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds formed in a one-pot synthesis. A quaternary carbon center was successfully constructed, and the active drug fragment morpholine was introduced into the molecule.