Cycloaddition of
tungsten-
1-3-furyl compounds with a variety of organic alkenes andalkynes proceeds smmothly at ambient conditions, yielding
tungsten-
1-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene and -
1-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene compounds in high regioselectivities andstereoselectivities. The cycloaddition is proposed to proceed via a mechanism involving azwitterion intermediate. Cleavage of oxygen bridges of
1-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes and
1-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptadienes occurs on treatment of CF
3SO
3H and Lewis acid, leading toatypical carbon-carbon bond scission and deoxygenation reactions to give highly substitutedbenzene and furan derivatives, respectively. The role of the tunsten fragment in thesedemetalation reactions is discussed in detail.