The reaction of 2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran (1) with lithium and a catalytic amount of 4, 4′-di- tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 5%) in THF at 0° C for 1.5 h, followed by addition of an electrophile [E+= H2O, tBuCHO, PhCH2CHO, Ph (CH2) 2CHO, PhCHO, furfural, Me2CO, Et2CO, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, cyclooctanone,(−)-menthone] in THF at− 78° C gives, after hydrolysis, compounds 3. Some diols 3 are easily transformed into 2-substituted ...