Vinyl oxiranes are rearranged to 2,5-dihydrofuran using catalyst (III) or (IV). The 2,5-dihydrofuran can be reduced to tetrahydrofuran. 3,4-Epoxy-1-butene substrate is converted to 2,5-dihydrofuran which in turn is converted to tetrahydrofuran. Substrate for making 3-methyltetrahydrofuran is prepared from isoprene. Substrate for making 2-methyltetrahydrofuran is prepared from piperylene. Reactions analogous to that with vinyl oxiranes are carried out with vinyl thiiranes and vinyl aziridines.