Acylfurans 3 furnished tosylated glycol monoesters 5 when treated with 1, 2-diols in the presence of an equivalent of TsOH. This process likely occurs via protiodefuranation of the intermediate furyl ketals to form 1, 3-dioxolan-2-ylium cations 8. Subsequent ring-opening via SN2 nucleophilic displacement by p-toluenesulfonate then provides esters 5. When a 1, 3-diol was employed, furan-containing ester 9 was formed instead of the standard product ...