On the claisen rearrangement of 1,4-diaryloxy-2-butynes

A proton nmr follow-up provided conclusive evidence for the involvement of two sequential Claisen rearrangements in the thermal rearrangement of 1,4-diaryloxy-2-butynes $\text{1}$to 11a-methylpterocarpans $\text{3}$. A detailed study of the rearrangement of 1,4-diaryloxy-2-butynes $\text{1}$ in polyethyleneglycol-200 (PEG-200), indicated a definite possibility of selective synthesis of either benzofuron (3,2-b )benzofuran $\text{4}$ or benzofuro(2,3-b)benzofuran $\text{5}$ by varying the temperature of the reaction alone