Model Construction for the A–B–C Ring System of Lysergic Acid via Vilsmeier–Haack‐Type Cyclization of 1H‐Indole‐4‐propanoic Acid Derivatives

Vilsmeier–Haack‐type cyclization of 1H‐indole‐4‐propanoic acid derivatives was examined as model construction for the A–B–C ring system of lysergic acid ( 1 ). Smooth cyclization from the 4 position of 1H‐indole to the 3 position was achieved by Vilsmeier–Haack reaction in the presence of K₂CO₃ in MeCN, and the best substrate was found to be the N,N‐dimethylcarboxamide 9 (Table 1). The modified method can be successfully applied to an α‐amino acid derivative protected with an N‐acetyl function, i.e., to 27 (Table 2); however, loss of optical purity was observed in the cyclization when a chiral substrate (S)‐ 27 was used (Scheme 5). On the other hand, the intramolecular Pummerer reaction of the corresponding sulfoxide 20 afforded an S‐containing tricyclic system 22 , which was formed by a cyclization to the 5 position (Scheme 3).     

A Novel Construction of 2‐Benzazepine Scaffold Based on TiCl4‐Mediated Tandem Mannich Reaction–Aromatic Electrophilic Substitution

A novel construction of 2‐benzazepine derivatives based on TiCl₄‐mediated tandem Mannich reaction of electron‐rich benzyl iminium ions with alkenyl ethers and Friedel–Crafts‐type alkylation is described. The protocol is amenable to provide the tricyclic furo[3,2‐d][2]benzazepine and pyrano[3,2‐d][2]benzazepine derivatives, respectively, with 2,3‐dihydrofuran or 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran as the substrates.     

A One‐Pot Synthesis of 1,2‐Dihydroisoquinoline Derivatives from Isoquinoline via a Four‐Component Reaction

A four‐component reaction for the synthesis of 1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline derivatives is described. The Huisgen 1,4‐dipolar intermediate, which is produced from isoquinoline and an electron‐deficient acetylene compound 1 , reacts with H₂O in the presence of diketene to produce 1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline derivatives 2 (Scheme 1). In addition, reaction of isoquinoline, dibenzoylacetylene (=1,4‐diphenylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione), and diketene in the presence of H₂O leads to pyrroloisoquinoline derivative 7 . The structures of the compounds 2a – f and 7 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is proposed (Schemes 2 and 3).     

Polymer‐Assisted Solution‐Phase Synthesis and Neurite‐Outgrowth‐Promoting Activity of 15‐Deoxy‐Δ12,14‐PGJ2 Derivatives

An efficient solution‐phase synthesis of rac‐15‐deoxy‐Δ^12,14‐PGJ₂ (15dPGJ₂) derivatives that contain variable α and ω chains based on a polymer‐assisted strategy and their neurite‐outgrowth‐promoting activity are described. The strategy for the synthesis of PGJ₂ derivatives involves the use of a vinyl iodide bearing cyclopentenone as a key intermediate, which undergoes Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and subsequent Lewis acid catalyzed aldol condensation for incorporation of the ω and α chains, respectively. For easy access to the PGJ₂ derivatives, a polymer‐supported catalyst and scavengers were adapted for use in these four diverse steps, in which workup and purification can be performed by simple filtration of the solid‐supported reagents. By using this methodology, we succeeded in the synthesis of 16 PGJ₂ derivatives with four alkyl boranes and four aldehydes. The neurite‐outgrowth‐promoting activity of the 16 synthetic compounds in PC12 cells revealed that the side‐chains play a major role in modulating their biological activity. The carboxylic acid on the α chain improved the biological activity, although it was not absolutely required. Furthermore, a PGJ₂ derivative with a phenyl moiety on the ω chain was found to exhibit an activity comparable to that of natural 15dPGJ₂.     

New Bis‐o‐Benzoquinoid Ligands with Ethylene Bridge and Their Metal Complexes

The treatment of di‐o‐quinone 4,4′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)‐bis(3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐o‐benzoquinone) (Q–CH₂–CH₂–Q, 1 ) leads to its rearrangement to form di‐p‐quinomethide 4,4′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐cyclohexa‐2,5‐dienone) ( 2 ). The subsequent oxidation of 2 by an alkaline solution of K₃[Fe(CN)₆] yielded the new di‐o‐quinone 4,4′‐(ethene‐1,2‐diyl)bis(3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐o‐benzoquinone) (Q–CH=CH–Q, 3 ), which contains an ethylene bridge. The formation of mono‐ and poly‐reduced derivatives of 2 and 3 with potassium, thallium was studied by EPR technique. The dinuclear thallium derivative of 3 , Tl(SQ–CH=CH–SQ)Tl, was found to exist in the diamagnetic quinomethide form. The most stable derivatives of 2 and 3 are triphenyltin(IV) bis‐p‐quinomethide‐phenolate ( 4 ) and triphenylantimony(V) bis‐catecholate ( 5 ), which have been synthesized and isolated. The molecular structures of 2 , 3 , and 5 were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Cocrystals of 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil: presence of the acceptor–donor–acceptor/donor–acceptor–donor synthon

The results of seven cocrystallization experiments of the antithyroid drug 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil (MTU), C₅H₆N₂OS, with 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine, 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine and 6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine (viz. 2,6‐diamino‐3H‐pyrimidin‐4‐one) are reported. MTU features an ADA (A = acceptor and D = donor) hydrogen‐bonding site, while the three coformers show complementary DAD hydrogen‐bonding sites and therefore should be capable of forming an ADA/DAD N—H...O/N—H...N/N—H...S synthon with MTU. The experiments yielded one cocrystal and six cocrystal solvates, namely 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–1‐methylpyrrolidin‐2‐one (1/1/2), C₅H₆N₂OS·C₄H₆N₄·2C₅H₉NO, (I), 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine (1/1), C₅H₆N₂OS·C₄H₆N₄, (II), 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (2/1/2), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·C₄H₆N₄·2C₄H₉NO, (III), 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/1/2), C₅H₆N₂OS·0.5C₄H₆N₄·C₃H₇NO, (IV), 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidinium 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracilate–6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–N,N‐dimethylformamide (1/1/2), C₄H₈N₅⁺·C₅H₅N₂OS⁻·C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₃H₇NO, (V), 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (1/1/1), C₅H₆N₂OS·C₄H₆N₄O·C₃H₇NO, (VI), and 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine–dimethyl sulfoxide (1/1/1), C₅H₆N₂OS·C₄H₆N₄O·C₂H₆OS, (VII). Whereas in cocrystal (I) an R₂²(8) interaction similar to the Watson–Crick adenine/uracil base pair is formed and a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network is observed, the cocrystals (II)–(VII) contain the triply hydrogen‐bonded ADA/DAD N—H...O/N—H...N/N—H...S synthon and show a one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network. Although 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine possesses only one DAD hydrogen‐bonding site, it is, due to orientational disorder, triply connected to two MTU molecules in (III) and (IV).     

Three‐Step Synthesis of 3‐Aryl‐2‐sulfanylthieno[2,3‐b]‐, ‐[2,3‐c]‐, or ‐[3,2‐c]pyridines from the Corresponding Aryl(halopyridinyl)methanones

A convenient three‐step procedure for the synthesis of three types of 3‐aryl‐2‐sulfanylthienopyridines 4, 8 , and 12 has been developed. The first step of the synthesis of thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine derivatives 4 is the replacement of the halo with a (sulfanylmethyl)sulfanyl group in aryl(2‐halopyridin‐3‐yl)methanones 1 by successive treatment with Na₂S?9 H₂O and chloromethyl sulfides to give aryl{2‐[(sulfanylmethyl)sulfanyl]pyridin‐3‐yl}methanones 2 . In the second step, these were treated with LDA (LiNⁱPr₂) to give 3‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐sulfanylthieno[2,3‐b]pyridin‐3‐ols 3 , which were dehydrated in the last step with SOCl₂ in the presence of pyridine to give the desired products. Similarly, thieno[2,3‐c]pyridine and thieno[3,2‐c]pyridine derivatives, 8 and 12 , respectively, can be prepared from aryl(3‐chloropyridin‐4‐yl)methanones 5 and aryl(4‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)methanones 9 , respectively.     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐4,6‐dihydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyridazine‐2,5(1H,3H)‐diones from Biginelli Compounds

Biginelli compounds 1 were first brominated at Me? C(6) with 2,4,4,6‐tetrabromocyclohex‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one to give Br₂CH? C(6) derivatives 2 . The hydrolysis of the 6‐(dibromomethyl) group of 2c to give the 6‐formyl derivative 3c in the presence of an expensive Ag salt followed by reaction with N₂H₄?H₂O yielded tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyridazine‐2,5(1H,3H)‐dione ( 4c ; Scheme 1). However, treatment of the 6‐(dibromomethyl) derivatives 2 directly with N₂H₄?H₂O led to the fused heterocycles 4 in better overall yield (Schemes 1 and 2; Table).     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Substituted 4‐Aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3,1‐benzoxazepines from 2‐(2‐Aminophenyl)‐1‐arylethanols via Dehydration of the Corresponding Amides

An efficient method for the preparation of 2‐substituted 4‐aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3,1‐benzoxazepine derivatives under mild conditions has been developed. The reaction of 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)ethanols 1 with acid chlorides in the presence of excess Et₃N in THF at room temperature gave the corresponding N‐acylated intermediates 2 , which were dehydrated by treatment with POCl₃ to give 2‐substituted 4‐aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3,1‐benzoxazepines 3 in a one‐pot reaction.     

Diels–Alder Additions,Ene Reactions,and Condensations of 4‐(Acylamino)‐5‐nitrosopyrimidines – Synthesis of 8‐Substituted Guanines and of 6‐Substituted Pteridinones

4‐(Acylamino)‐5‐nitrosopyrimidines react either by a reductive condensation to provide 8‐substituted guanines, or by a Diels–Alder cycloaddition, or an ene reaction, to provide 6‐substituted pteridinones, depending on the nature of the acyl group and the reaction conditions. Experimental details are provided for the transformation of (acylamino)‐nitrosopyrimidines to 8‐substituted guanines, and the scope of the reaction is further demonstrated by transforming the trifluoro acetamide 25 to the 8‐(trifluoromethyl)guanine ( 27 ), and the N,N′‐bis(nitrosopyrimidinyl)‐dicarboxamide 29 to the (R,R)‐1,2‐di(guan‐8‐yl)ethane‐1,2‐diol ( 32 ). An intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of the N‐sorbyl (=N‐hexa‐2,4‐dienoyl) nitrosopyrimidine 10 , followed by a spontaneous elimination to cleave the N,O bond of the initial cycloaddition product provided the pteridinones 14 or 15 , characterized by a (Z)‐ or (E)‐3‐hydroxyprop‐1‐enyl group at C(6). Treatment of 10 with Ph₃P led to the C(8)‐penta‐1,3‐dienyl‐guanine 18 . The ene reaction of the N‐crotonyl (=N‐but‐2‐enoyl) nitrosopyrimidine 19 provided the 6‐vinyl‐pteridinone 20a that dimerized readily to 21a , while treatment of 19 with Ph₃P led in high yield to 8‐(prop‐1‐enyl)guanine ( 23 ). The structure of the dimer 21 was established by X‐ray analysis of its bis(N,N‐dimethylformamidine) derivative 21b . The crystal structure of the nitroso amide 10 is characterized by two molecules in the centrosymmetric unit cell. Intermolecular H‐bonds connect the amino group to the amide carbonyl and to N(1). The crystalline bis(purine) 30 forms a left‐handed helix with four molecules per turn and a pitch of 30.2 Å.     

Chemoselectivity in the Reaction of 2‐Diazo‐3‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropanal with Aldehydes and Ketones

The chemoselectivity in the reaction of 2‐diazo‐3‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropanal ( 1 ) with aldehydes and ketones in the presence of Et₃N was investigated. The results indicate that 1 reacts with aromatic aldehydes with weak electron‐donating substituents and cyclic ketones under formation of 6‐phenyl‐4H‐1,3‐dioxin‐4‐one derivatives. However, it reacts with aromatic aldehydes with electron‐withdrawing substituents to yield 1,3‐diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropan‐1‐ones, accompanied by chalcone derivatives in some cases. It did not react with linear ketones, aliphatic aldehydes, and aromatic aldehydes with strong electron‐donating substituents. A mechanism for the formation of 1,3‐diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropan‐1‐ones and chalcone derivatives is proposed. We also tried to react 1 with other unsaturated compounds, including various olefins and nitriles, and cumulated unsaturated compounds, such as N,N′‐dialkylcarbodiimines, phenyl isocyanate, isothiocyanate, and CS₂. Only with N,N′‐dialkylcarbodiimines, the expected cycloaddition took place.     

One‐Pot Syntheses of 2‐(2‐Sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic Acid Derivatives via Reactions of 3‐(2‐Isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoic Acid Derivatives with Thiols or Sodium Sulfide

Two efficient methods for the preparation of 2‐(2‐sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid derivatives 3 under mild conditions have been developed. The first method is based on the reaction of 3‐(2‐isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoates 1a – 1c with thiols in the presence of Et₃N in THF at room temperature, leading to the corresponding dithiocarbamate intermediates 2 , which underwent spontaneous cyclization at the same temperature by an attack of the S‐atom at the prop‐2‐enoyl moiety in a 1,4‐addition manner (Michael addition) to give 2‐(2‐sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetates in one pot. The second method involves treatment of 3‐(2‐isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid derivatives 1b – 1d with Na₂S leading to the formation of 2‐(2‐sodiosulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid intermediates 5 by a similar addition/cyclization sequence, which are then allowed to react with alkyl or aryl halides to afford derivatives 3 . 2‐(2‐Thioxo‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid derivatives 6 can be obtained by omitting the addition of halides.     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐8‐fluoro‐3a,4,5,9b‐tetrahydro‐3H‐cyclopenta[c]quinolines and Their Ozonides

4‐Aryl‐8‐fluoro‐3a,4,5,9b‐tetrahydro‐3H‐cyclopenta[c]quinolines are synthesized by acid‐catalyzed (CF₃CO₂H) three‐component cyclocondensation of 4‐fluoroaniline with aromatic aldehydes and cyclopentadiene. Stable ozonides with (1R*,4S*,5aR*,6S*,11bS*)‐configurations are obtained by ozonolysis of corresponding trifluoroacetyl derivatives.     

Synthesis of Bis‐Heterocyclic 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides from 3‐Oxido‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides

The reaction of 1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides 1 , which are conveniently accessible by treatment of the corresponding esters with NH₂NH₂?H₂O, with isothiocyanates in refluxing EtOH led to thiosemicarbazides (=hydrazinecarbothioamides) 4 in high yields (Scheme 2). Whereas 4 in boiling aqueous NaOH yielded 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones 5 , the reaction in concentrated H₂SO₄ at room temperature gave 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amines 6 . Similarly, the reaction of 1 with butyl isocyanate led to semicarbazides 7 , which, under basic conditions, undergo cyclization to give 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ones 8 (Scheme 3). Treatment of 1 with Ac₂O yielded the diacylhydrazine derivatives 9 exclusively, and the alternative isomerization of 1 to imidazol‐2‐ones was not observed (Scheme 4). It is important to note that, in all these transformations, the imidazole N‐oxide residue is retained. Furthermore, it was shown that imidazole N‐oxides bearing a 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione or 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine moiety undergo the S‐transfer reaction to give bis‐heterocyclic 1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 by treatment with 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione (Scheme 5).     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 1,4‐Oxathiino[2,3‐b]quinoxalines or ‐pyrazines from 2,3‐Dichloroquinoxaline or ‐pyrazine and 1‐Aryl‐2‐bromoalkan‐1‐ones

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of novel heterocyclic derivatives, 2‐aryl‐1,4‐oxathiino[2,3‐b]quinoxalines or ‐pyrazines 5 , via the reaction of 2,3‐dichloroquinoxaline or ‐pyrazine with Na₂S?9 H₂O, and subsequent treatment of the resulting 2‐chloro‐3‐sodiosulfanylquinoxaline or ‐pyrazine 2 with 1‐aryl‐2‐bromo‐1‐alkanones and then NaH under mild conditions is described.     

Electronic spectra and first‐order hyperpolarizability of 4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2,6‐bis‐ (2′‐thiophene‐vinyl)‐pyran derivatives

On the basis of the ZINDO program, we have designed a program to calculate the first‐order hyperpolarizability β_ijk and β_μ according to the sum‐over‐states (SOS) expression. The first‐order hyperpolarizability of 4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2,6‐bis‐(2′‐thiophene‐vinyl)‐pyran derivatives were studied. The calculated results were that the 4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2,6‐bis‐(2′‐thiophene‐vinyl)‐pyran derivatives exhibit good nonlinearity with their β₀ values, which are slightly less than that of the corresponding 2,6‐bis‐styryl‐4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐pyran derivatives. It does not agree with the auxiliary donor–acceptor effects theory. The 4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2,6‐bis‐(2′‐thiophene‐vinyl)‐pyran derivatives, having two low‐lying electronic excited states that contribute to the molecular hyperpolarizability in an additive manner, are good candidates as chromophores due to their high nonlinearities and good thermal stability. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 82: 65–72, 2001     

Preparation and characterization of new inorganic–organic hybrid catalyst H3PMo12O40/Hyd‐SBA‐15 and its application in the domino multi‐component reaction

We present novel inorganic–organic hybrid catalyst to accomplish domino multi‐component reaction (MCR) for synthesis of 3‐amino‐2′‐oxospiro[benzo[c]pyrano[3,2‐a]phenazine‐1,3′‐indoline]‐2‐carbonitrile/carboxylate derivatives. This methodology offers remarkable development by easy production of H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀/Hyd‐SBA‐15 in regard to solving the problem of using harsh catalysts, also it demonstrates to be impressive and environmentally friendly in term of low reaction times and high yields.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Functionalized 2H‐Chromene (=2H‐1‐Benzopyran) Derivatives via a Three‐Component Reaction between a CH‐Acid,a Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylate,and Methyl Chloroglyoxylate or Benzyl Carbonochloridate Mediated by Triphenylphosphine

An effective route to functionalized 2H‐chromene (=2H‐1‐benzopyran) derivatives 4 is described (Scheme 1). This involves the reaction of a 1,1‐diactivated alkene, resulting from the reaction of dimedone (=5,5‐dimethylcyclohexane‐1,3‐dione; 1a ) with methyl chloroglyoxylate (ClC(O)COOMe), benzyl carbonochloridate (ClC(O)OCH₂Ph) or 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl chloride (3,5‐(NO₂)₂C₆H₃C(O)Cl), and a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioate) in the presence of Ph₃P which undergo intramolecular Wittig reaction to produce 2H‐chromene derivatives (Scheme 1).     

From Blue Azulenes to Blue Heptalenes – New Strongly Polarized π‐Convertible Heptalenes

The 1,5,6,8,10‐pentamethylheptalene‐4‐carboxaldehyde ( 4b ) (together with its double‐bond‐shifted (DBS) isomer 4a ) and methyl 4‐formyl‐1,6,8,10‐tetramethylheptalene‐5‐carboxylate ( 15b ) were synthesized (Schemes 3 and 7, resp.). Aminoethenylation of 4a / 4b with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (=1,1‐dimethoxy‐N,N‐dimethylmethanamine=DMFDMA) led in DMF to 1‐[(1E)‐2‐(dimethylamino)ethenyl]‐5,6,8,10‐tetramethylheptalene‐2‐carboxaldehyde ( 18a ; Scheme 9), whereas the stronger aminoethenylation agent N,N,N′,N′,N″,N″‐hexamethylmethanetriamine (=tris(dimethylamino)methane=TDMAM) gave an almost 1 : 1 mixture of 18a and 1‐[(1E)‐2‐(dimethylamino)ethenyl]‐5,6,8,10‐tetramethylheptalene‐4‐carboxaldehyde ( 20b ; Scheme 11). Carboxylate 15b delivered with DMFDMA on heating in DMF the expected aminoethenylation product 19b (Scheme 10). The aminoethenylated heptalenecarboxaldehydes were treated with malononitrile in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of TiCl₄/pyridine to yield the corresponding malononitrile derivatives 23b, 24b , and 26a (Schemes 13 and 14). The photochemically induced DBS process of the heptalenecarboxaldehydes as ‘soft’ merocyanines and their malononitrile derivatives as ‘strong’ merocyanines of almost zwitterionic nature were studied in detail (Figs. 10–29) with the result that 1,4‐donor/acceptor substituted heptalenes are cleaner switchable than 1,2‐donor/acceptor‐substituted heptalenes.     

Radical Cyclization Reactions via Manganese(III) Acetate Leading to 2‐Thienyl‐Substituted Dihydrofuran Compounds

The 2‐thienyl‐substituted 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 8 were obtained by the radical cyclization reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1f with 2‐thienyl‐substituted conjugated alkenes 2a – 2e by using [Mn(OAc)₃] (Tables 1–5). In this study, reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1e with alkenes 2a – 2c gave 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 5 in high yields (Tables 1–3). Also the cyclic alkenes 2d and 2e gave the dihydrobenzofuran compounds, i.e., 6 and 7 in good yields (Table 4). Interestingly, the reaction of benzoylacetone (=1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dione; 1f ) with some alkenes gave two products due to generation of two stable carbocation intermediates (Table 5).