Synthesis and reduction of 5-halo-and 5-nitro-1-(benzofuran-3-yl)-2-phenylethanones

Novel 1-(2-alkylbenzofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanones having a halogen or nitro group in position 5 of the benzofuran ring were synthesized starting with the corresponding 2-(2-formylphenoxy)alkanoic acids. 1-(2-Alkylbenzofuran-3-yl)-2-phenylethanols containing bromine or chlorine atom were prepared in high yields by reduction of the corresponding ethanones with lithium aluminum hydride. Selective catalytic reduction of nitro 1-(2-alkylbenzofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanones to the corresponding amino compounds under Pd/C in room temperature was achieved. Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1158–1166, August, 2006.