It undergoes lithiation upon treatment with butyl lithium.

The resulting 2-lithio derivative is a versatile intermediate.

[2][3] 2,3-Dihydrofurans are intermediates in the Feist–Benary synthesis of furans from α-halogen ketones and β-dicarbonyl compounds.

These routes usually involve cyclization or cycloaddition reactions of carbonyl compounds using metal-containing catalysts.

[5][6] Iodine can also serve as a catalyst[7] as well as Raney nickel.