Bifunctional Copper Catalysts. A one step synthesis of Bicyclic Ethers Starting from alfa, beta -Unsaturated Ketones

A new, one pot synthesis of bicyclic ethers starting from ?,?-unsaturated ketones containing an additional isolated olefinic bond is proposed. It relies on highly chemoselective hydrogenation of the enone group to the corresponding alcohol in the presence of supported copper catalysts, and on the presence of acidic sites on the catalyst support activating the double bond as a carbocation.