Triflic Anhydride-Mediated Unprecedented Reactivities of Diacetonide Endoglucofuranose and Ribose Tetracetate: Direct Access to γ-Butenolides and Oxazoles

Herein, we present two unprecedented reactions for the synthesis of γ-butenolides and oxazoles, leveraging Tf₂O's promoted reactivity of nitriles with diacetonide endoglucofuranose and 1,2,3,5-tetra-<i>O</i>-acetyl-β-d-ribofuranose. This method is highly efficient and straightforward and employs a one-step, metal-free protocol. It is effective with both aromatic and aliphatic nitriles and demonstrates a broad substrate scope. Our approach provides a versatile and practical pathway for the synthesis of structurally diverse compounds, significantly expanding the utility of Tf₂O in synthetic chemistry.