Hafnium Chloride Tetrahydrofuran Complex‐Catalyzed Diels–Alder Cycloadditions of 3‐Ethoxycarbonylcoumarins with 1,3‐Dienes under Solvent‐Free Conditions

Hafnium chloride tetrahydrofuran complex (HfCl₄⋅2 THF) is an efficient catalyst for the Diels–Alder cycloadditions of 3‐ethoxycarbonylcoumarins 1a – c and 1,3‐butadienes 2x – z under solvent‐free conditions furnishing the corresponding cycloadducts in excellent yields. This salt is an air stable Lewis acid and therefore the reactions can be performed in air atmosphere making the procedure simple to be carried out.