Synthesis of furo[2,3-b]pyridine

Two routes were employed to synthesize unsubstituted furo2,3-b]pyridine (IV). The first method started with ethyl 5-aminofuro2,3-b] pyridine-2-carboxylate (1) and involved successive deamination, hydrolysis, and decarboxylation. The second method began with 5-nitrofuro2,3-b ]-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (V) and consisted of successive decarboxylation, reduction, and deamination reactions.