Benzofuranyl-pyran-2-ones, -pyridazines,and -pyridones from naturally occurring furochromones (visnagin and khellin)

The novel and versatile enaminones 2a,b were synthesized by treatment of visnaginone methyl ether 1a or khellinone methyl ether 1b with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal. They were reacted with hippuric acid or N-acetylglycine to yield benzofuran-5-yl-2H-pyran-2-ones 3a–d . The reaction of 2a,b with cyanoacetamide and malononitrile dimer in sodium ethoxide gave benzofuran-5-yl-pyridones 4a,b and benzofuran-5-yl-1H-pyridine-2-ylidene] malononitrile 5a , respectively. Refluxing 2a,b with hydrazine hydrate or with hydroxyla- mine afforded benzofuran-5-yl-1H-pyrazoles 6a,b and benzofuran-5-yl-isoxazoles 7a,b , respectively. Moreover, 2a,b coupled with aryl diazonium salt in the presence of sodium hydroxide to yield 3-(benzofuran-5-yl)-2-aryl-hydrazono-3-oxo-propanals 8a,b which were excellent precursors for the synthesis of pyridazines 9–12 . © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 15:85–91, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10219