Abstract
Otherwise inaccessible nitro benzodifuranone (BZDF) dyes are formed in good yield by treatment of 5-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran either with 4NO2-3-R-C6H3CBrClCO2CH3 (R = H, alkyl, aryl or CO2CH3) in acetic acid. High yielding reduction of the nitro to the amino BZDF is accomplished by catalytic hydrogenation over Pd or by NaBH4 / SnCl2.