ABSTRACT
Two known methods were used for synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted-3(2H)-benzofuranone derivatives. It was found that depending on the reaction conditions, degradation products or the products of oxidation were isolated. This latter reaction became the main process when the ring closure was performed starting from methoxy- or 2-propoxy-desoxybenzoin and diethyl bromo-(or chloro-)-malonate to give d,l- and meso-dimers of the substituted 3(2H)-benzofuranones.