Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Arylbenzo[b]furans from 2-Styrylphenols Using CuBr₂

Abstract

A new route to the synthesis of 2-arylbenzo[b]furans has been developed. It involves homo/cross-McMurry coupling of salicylaldehyde/substituted salicylaldehydes/aromatic aldehydes to 2-styrylphenols, which undergo intramolecular cyclization with CuBr₂ in tetrahydrofuran at ambient temperature to afford 2-arylbenzo[b]furans in good yields.

Keywords:

• 2-Arylbenzo[b]furan
• 2-styrylphenols
• copper(II) bromide
• McMurry coupling

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

One of the authors (S. B.) is thankful to the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, for financial support in the form of a senior research fellowship.

Notes

^a Isolated yield after column chromatography.

^a Isolated yield after column chromatography.

^a Isolated yield after column chromatography.