“Substituted furfuryl alcohols are extraordinarily versatile starting materials in synthesis. They are precursors to furanoxonium ion intermediates which are implicated in the Piancatelli reaction (leading to 2-cyclopentenones) and in the synthesis of novel dihydrofuran-based exo enol ether/cyclic ketal natural products.”…
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Source: http://blog.dalinyebo.com/the-versatility-of-furfuryl-alcohols-and-furanoxonium-ions-in-synthesis/