Development of the scope of a co-mediated O-->C rearrangement reaction

reaction: see text] In this paper we describe an Al-promoted, Co-mediated O-->C rearrangement reaction of cyclic enol ethers. This process delivers functionalized cyclohexanones with good to excellent levels of diastereocontrol, whereby the product stereochemistry is dependent on the E/Z-stereochemistry of the starting enol ether. The rearrangement process also permits access to highly substituted alpha-spirocyclic cyclohexanones as well as cyclopentanones. The latter rearrangement appears to proceed via an unusual 5-(enolendo)-exo-trig cyclization process.