The domino chemistry approach to molecular complexity: competing domino processes modulated by the substitution pattern.

Oxidative cleavage with lead tetraacetate results in the synthesis of different oxygen heterocycles starting from the same unsaturated 1,2-diol of type I by tuning of the substitution pattern at the angular position. When this compound bears a functional substituent, such as an alkoxy, ester, alkenyl, or simply a hydrogen, more than one reaction pathway are in competition. The process allows for the selective formation of three different complex ring systems, by the appropriate choice of the angular substituent, leading to either a ring-expanded type 1, ring-retained type 2, or domino products 3.