Synthesis of c-17 trans β-lactams of the androstane series

3,3′-Ethylenedioxyandrost-4-en-17β-ol 1 was converted into the ethyl ester 2 by reaction with potassium metal and ethyl chloroacetate. The ethyl ester 2 on reaction with hydrazine gave the hydrazide 3 . Condensation of 3 with aryl aldehydes gave the Schiff bases 4 . The reaction of Schiff bases 4 with mono-chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine afforded the β-lactams 5 .     

Furopyridines. XIII. Reaction of 2-methylfuro[2,3-b]-, -[3,2-b]-, -[2,3-c]- and -[3,2-c]pyridines with lithium diisopropylamide

Lithiation of 2-methylfuro[2,3-b]- 1a , -[2,3-c]- 1c and -[3,2-c]pyridine 1d with lithium diisopropylamide at ?75° and subsequent treatment with deuterium chloride in deuterium oxide afforded 2-monodeuteriomethyl compounds 2a, 2c and 2d , while 2-methylfuro[3,2-b]pyridine 1b gave a mixture of 1b, 2b , 2-methyl-3-deuteriofuro[3,2-b]pyridine 2′b and 2-(1-proynyl)pyridin-3-ol 5 . The same reaction of 1a at ?40° gave 3-(1,2-propadienyl)pyridin-2-ol 3 and 3-(2-propynyl)pyridin-2-ol 4 . Reaction of the lithio intermediates from 1a, 1c and 1d with benzaldehyde, propionaldehyde and acetone afforded the corresponding alcohol derivatives 6a, 6c, 6d, 7a, 7c, 7d, 8a, 8c and 8d in excellent yield; while the reaction of lithio intermediate from 1b gave the expected alcohols 6b and 8b in lower yields accompanied by formation of 3-alkylated compounds 9, 11, 12 and compound 5 . While reaction of the intermediates from 1a, 1b and 1d with N,N-dimethylacetamide yielded the 2-acetonyl compounds 13a, 13b and 13d in good yield, the same reaction of 1c did not give any acetylated product but recovery of the starting compound almost quantitatively.     

A two step facile synthesis of new steroidal linear and angular pyranones having anti-mycobacterial activity

Title compounds 2′,2′-dimethylcholesta-2,4-dien[3,2-b]-pyran-4′-one(3),2′,2′-dimethyl-3β-substituted cholesta-4,6-dien[7,6- b]-pyran-4′-one(6a,b)and(6c)were prepared by the cyclization of 2-acetylcholesta-2,4-dien-3-ol(2),6-acetyl-3β-substituted- cholesta-4,6-dien-7-ol(5a,b)and(5c)respectively,with pyrrolidine,dry benzene and dry acetone using Dean Stark separator through conventional heating.Furthermore,compounds were also found to be active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.     

Reaction of 3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one with formaldehyde

Reaction of 3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one ( 1 ) and formaldehyde with the presence of calcium hydroxide in aqueous dioxane gave 7,7-bis(hydroxymethyl)-3-methoxy-17-methyl-5-methylenemorphinan-6β-ol ( 2a ). Catalytic reduction of 2a yielded the 5α-methyl compound, 2b . Tosylation of 2a,b followed by lithium triethylborohydride reduction gave either 7α-methyl-6β,7β-oxetanes 4a,b or 7,7-dimethyl-6β-ols 5a,b , depending on reaction conditions. The C-6 ketones 6a,b were prepared by oxidation of 5a,b . One compound in this series, 6a , had antinociceptive activity.     

Reaktionen mit phosphororganischen Verbindungen. XLII. Nucleophile Substitutionen an Hydroxysteroiden mit Hilfe von Triphenylphosphan/Azodicarbonsäureester

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of Hydroxysteroids using Triphenylphosphane/diethylazodicarboxylate Nucleophilic substitution reactions by means of the title reagent on various more or less hindered steroid alcohols with suitable nucleophils in benzene is described. It was not possible to run this substitution process in the hitherto used solvent THF. Cholestan-3α-ol ( 1 ) was transformed to the 3β-substituted products 3β-benzoyloxy-cholestane ( 1a ) and 3β-azido-cholestane ( 1b ). Testosterone ( 2 ) affords with the corresponding nucleophils after short heating in benzene the inverted 17α-substituted products 3a, 3b and 3c . Analogously the 17α-azido-derivative 5a arises from 17β-hydroxy-androst-3-on ( 4 ). In the presence of a ketogroup in the substrate a competitive reaction can occur as it is shown in the case of cholestan-3-on ( 6 ): the products are the en-hydrazo-dicarboxylate-steroids 7a and 7b . The sterically very hindered 11α-position in 11α-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dion ( 8 ) can be transformed also to the 11β-azide 9a . The substitution of a 6 β-hydroxy group in androstane-3β, 6β, 17β-triol-3,17-diacetate ( 10 ) to the 6α-azide 11a affords the elimination product 12 as main component. Trans-diaxial vicinal diols such as cholestane-2β,3α-diol ( 13 ) give a mixture of the α- and β-oxiranes 14a and 14b .     

Condensation reactions of 3-oxo-2-arylhydrazonopropanals with active methylene reagents: formation of 2-hydroxy- and 2-amino-6-substituted-5-arylazonicotinates and pyrido[3,2-c]cinnolines via 6π-electrocyclization reactions

3-Oxo-3-phenyl-2-(p-tolylhydrazono)propanal (1a) undergoes condensation with ethyl cyanoacetate in acetic acid in the presence of ammonium acetate to yield either 2-hydroxy-6-phenyl-5-p-tolylazonicotinic acid ethyl ester (6a) or 2-amino-6-phenyl-5-ptolyl-azonicotinic acid ethyl ester (8), depending on the reaction conditions. Similarly, other 3-oxo-3-aryl-2-arylhydrazonopropanals 1a,b condense with active methylene nitriles 2c,d to yield arylazonicotinates 6b,c. In contrast, 2-[(4-nitrophenyl)-hydrazono]-3-oxo-3-phenyl-propanal (1c) reacts with ethyl cyanoacetate to yield ethyl 6-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxo-2,6-dihydropyrido[3,2–c]cinnoline-3-carboxylate (11), via a novel 6π-electrocyclization pathway. Finally, 3-oxo-2-(phenylhydrazono)-3-p-tolylpropanal (1d) condenses with 2a-c to yield pyridazinones 13a-c.     

Conformations of the Ten-membered Ring in 5, 10-Secosteroids. III: (Z)-3β- and (Z)-3α-Hydroxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one Esters and (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-Cholestene-3, 5-dione

(Z)-3β-Acetoxy- and (Z)-3 α-acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one ( 6a ) and ( 7a ) were synthesized by fragmentation of 3β-acetoxy-5α-cholestan-5-ol ( 1 ) and 3α-acetoxy-5β-cholestan-5-ol ( 2 ), respectively, using in both cases the hypoiodite reaction (the lead tetraacetate/iodine version). The 3β-acetate 6a was further transformed, via the 3β-alcohol 6d to the corresponding (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate ester 6b and to (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholestene-3, 5-dione ( 8 ) (also obtainable from the 3α-acetate 7a ). The ¹H-and ¹³C-NMR. spectra showed that the (Z)-unsaturated 10-membered ring in all three compounds ( 6a , 7a and 8 ) exists in toluene, in only one conformation of type C ₁, the same as that of the (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate 6b in the solid state found by X-ray analysis. The unfavourable relative spatial factors (interdistance and mutual orientation) of the active centres in conformations of type C ₁ are responsible for the absence of intramolecular cyclizations in the (Z)-ketoesters 6 and 7 ( a and c ).     

Ergosta-5,7,9(11), 22-tetraen-3β-ol and its 24ξ-Ethyl Homolog,Two New Marine Sterols from the Red Sea Sponge Biemna fortis

The steroidal components of a Red Sea sponge, Biemna fortis, were fractionated through reversed phase HPLC. and analyzed by a combination of physical methods, including high resolution GC./MS. and 360 MHz ¹H-NMR. The sponge contains five conventional Δ⁵-sterols, 1a – c , 1e , 1g , which comprise about 25% of the mixture and 2,5% of gorgosterol (1h) , a sterol never found before in Porifera. Three Δ^5,7,22-sterols were also present as major components in the mixture (～70%): cholesta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol (2a) , ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol (2c) and (24R)-ethylcholesta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol (2e) whereas two new tetra-unsaturated sterols were identified in minor amounts (2%): ergosta-5,7,9(11),22-tetraen-3β-ol (3c) and 24ξ-ethylcholesta-5,7,9 (11), 22-tetraen-3β-ol ( 3e or 3f ). NMR. spectroscopy made possible the assignment of a 24R configuration for all the C(24) substituted sterols isolated in sufficient amount from the mixture. The possible symbiotic, dietary or biosynthetic origins of these sterols are discussed.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 4-(4,6-Dimethoxylpyrimidin-2-yl)-3-thiourea Carboxylic Acid Ethyl Ester

4-(4,6-Dimethoxyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-3-thiourea carboxylic acid ethyl ester was synthesized by the reaction of 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxyl pyrimidine,potassium thiocyanate and methyl chloroformate in ethyl acetate.Single crystals suitable for X-ray measurement were obtained by recrystallization with the solvent of dimethyl formamidc at room temperature.The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.Crystallographic data:C10H14N4O4S,Mr=286.31,monoclinic,space group C2/c with a=2.5309(3),b=0.67682(6),c=1.74237(19)nm,β=114.744(3)°,V=2.7106(5)nm3,Dc=1.403 g/cm3,μ=0.225mm-1,F(000)=1200,Z=8,R=0.0514 and wR=0.1529.     

Synthesis of Dihydropyrans and Dihydrofurans via Radical Cyclization of Unsaturated Alcohols and 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds

The oxidative cyclization reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1c and α,β‐unsaturated alcohols 2a – 2f with Mn(OAc)₃ were performed, leading to dihydrofurans. Treatment of 1a and 1b with 2‐methylbut‐3‐en‐2‐ol ( 2a ) gave dihydrofurans 3aa and 3ba , and dihydropyrans 4aa and 4ba , as unexpected products. While the reaction of 2‐methylbut‐3‐yn‐2‐ol ( 2b ) with acetylacetone ( 1b ) yielded a bifuran, ethyl acetoacetate ( 1a ) led to a mixture of furan, bifuran, and salicylate derivatives. Besides, surprisingly, styryl‐substituted dihydrofurans were obtained from the reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and (3E)‐2,4‐diphenylbut‐3‐en‐2‐ol. The reaction mechanisms were proposed for the formation of the different products, considering intermediates in these reaction mixtures.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Biological Activities of 2-Oxo-2-aryl-1 - （ 1,2,4-triazol-1 -yl ） ethyl phenylcarbamodithioate

IntroductionAs an important type of fungicide, compoundscontaining 1,2,4-triazole groups have attracted muchattention because they exhibit a certain fungicidal acti-vity againstPuccinia reconditeand also play a role inroot-growth regulation[1—3]. However…     

Studies for a Diastereoselective Synthesis of the Tetracyclic Diterpenic Diol Stemarin: A Model Study for a New Preparation of the Key Intermediate and the Synthesis of (+)-18-Deoxystemarin

Methods for a stereoselective preparation of compounds of type 2b , a key intermediate of a previous synthesis of the tetracyclic diterpene stemarin ( la ), have been tested on model compounds 5a, 5c , and 8a . Thus, (±)-(1RS,6SR,8SR,11SR)-hydroxytricyclo[6.2.2.0^l,6]dodecan-9-one ( 5a ) was transformed by the Mitsunobu reaction into (±)-(1RS,6SR,8SR,11RS)-11-(benzoyloxy)tricyclot[6.2.2.0^1,6]dodecan-9-one ( 6b ; Scheme 2). The latter was also obtained from (±)-(1RS,6SR,8SR,11RS)-11-[(4)-toluenesulfonyloxy]tricyclo[6.2.2.0^1,6]dodecan-9-one ( 5c ) by the action of Et₄N (PhCOO) in acetone. Compound 6b was then converted into (±)-(1RS,6RS,8RS,9RS)-tricyclo[6.2.2.0^1,6]dodecan-9-ol ( 8b ), a model for 2b . Compound 8b was also prepared from its epimer 8a by the Mitsunobu reaction via ester 7b . The inversion of configuration of bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ols or derivates was not previously described. The model studies paved the way to the diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-18-deoxystemarin ( 1b ) via 12β-hydroxy-13-methyl-9β,13β-ethano-9β-podocarpan-15-one ( 10a ) and 13-methyl-9β,13β-ethano-9β-podpcarpan-12α-ol ( 11b ).     

Benzimidazole condensed ring systems. 5. Studies on the Synthesis of Pyrimido[1,6-α]benzimidazole-1,3(2H,5H)-diones

The reaction of ethyl 1H-benzimidazole-2-acetate (1) with methyl or ethyl isocyantes 2a,b resulted in excellent yields of the respective 2-methyl- or 2-ethylpyrimido[1,6-a]benzimidazole-1,3(2H,5H)-diones 3a,b , while the reaction of 1 with phenyl isocyanate (2c) gave, unexpectedly, ethyl 2-(1-phenylcarbamoyl-1H,3H-benzimidazol-2-ylidene)-2-phenylcarbamoylacetate (4). Alkylation of 3 with trimethyl or triethyl phosphates 5a,b led to the 5-methyl or 5-ethyl derivatives 6a-d . Chlorination of 6 with sulfuryl chloride afforded the 4-chloro derivatives 7a-d.     

20, 21-Azirdin-Steroide: Reaktion von Derivaten der Oxime von 5-Pregnen-20-on,9β,10α-5-Pregnen-20-on und 9β,10α-5,7-Pregnadien-20-on mit Lithiumaluminiumhydrid und von 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-on-oxim mit Grignard-Verbindungen

20, 21-Aziridine Steroids: Reaction of Derivatives of the Oximes of 5-Pregnen-20-one, 9β, 10α-5-Pregnen-20-one and 9β, 10α-5,7-Pregnadiene-20-one with Lithium Aluminium Hydride, and of 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one Oxime with Grignard Reagents. Reduction of 3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one oxime ( 2 ) with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran yielded 20α-amino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 1 ), 20β-amino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 3 ), 20β, 21-imino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 6 ) and 20β, 21-imino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 9 ). The aziridines 6 and 9 were separated via the acetyl derivatives 7 and 10 . The reaction of 6 and 9 with CS₂ gave 5-(3β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17β-yl)-thiazolidine-2-thione ( 8 ). Treatment of the 20-oximes 12 and 15 of the corresponding 9β,10α(retro)-pregnane derivatives with LiAlH₄ gave the aziridines 13 and 16 , respectively. Their deamination led to the diene 14 and triene 17 , respectively. Reduction of isobutyl methyl ketone-oxime with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran yielded 2-amino-4-methyl-pentane ( 19 ) as main product, 1, 2-imino-4-methyl-pentane ( 22 ) as second product and the epimeric 2,3-imino-4-methyl-pentanes 20 and 21 as minor products. – 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one oxime ( 2 ) was transformed by methylmagnesium iodide in toluene to 20α, 21-imino-20-methyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 23 ) and 20β, 21-imino-20-methyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 26 ). Acetylation of these aziridines was accompanied by elimination reactions leading to 3β-acetoxy-20-methylidene-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 30 ) and 3β-acetoxy-20-methyl-21-N-acetylamino-5,17-pregnadiene ( 32 ). The reaction of oxime 2 with ethylmagnesium bromide in toluene gave 20α, 21-imino-20-ethyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 24 ) and 20α,21-imino-20-ethyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 27 ). Acetylation of 24 and 27 led to 3β-acetoxy-20-ethylidene-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 31 ), 3β-acetoxy-20-ethyl-21-N-acetylamino-5,17-pregnadiene 33 and 3β, 20-diacetoxy-20-ethyl-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 37 ). With phenylmagnesium bromide in toluene the oxime 2 was transformed to 20β, 21-imino-20-phenyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 25 ) and 20β,21-imino-20-phenyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 28 ). Acetylation of 25 and 28 yielded 3β-acetoxy-20-phenyl-21-N-acetylamino-5, 17-pregnadiene ( 34 ) and 3β,20-diacetoxy-20-phenyl-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 39 ). LiAlH₄-reduction of 39 gave 3β, 20-dihydroxy-20-phenyl-21-N-ethylamino-5-pregnene ( 41 ). – The 20, 21-aziridines are stable to LiAlH₄. Consequently they are no intermediates in the formation of the 20-amino derivatives obtained from the oxime 2 .     

Furopyridines. XXI. Synthesis of cyano derivatives of furo-[2,3-b]-, -[2,3-c]- and -[3,2-c]pyridine and their conversion to derivatives having another carbon-substituent

Cyanation of furo[2,3-b]-, -[2,3-c]- and -[3,2-c]pyridine N-oxides 1a, 1b and 1c by the Reissert-Henze method, reaction with benzoyl chloride and trimethylsilyl cyanide in dichloromethane and the reaction with trimethylsilyl cyanide and triethylamine in acetonitrile afforded 6-cyanofuro[2,3-b]- 2a , 7-cyanofuro[2,3-c]- 2b and 4-cyanofuro[3,2-c]pyridine 2c in moderate to excellent yield. The cyano group in 2a, 2b and 2c was converted to carboxamides 3a, 3b and 3c , ethyl imidates 5a, 5b and 5c and ethyl carboxylates 6a, 6b and 6c . Reaction of the N-oxides with trimethylsily bromide in acetonitrile gave the deoxygenated furopyridine 7a and 7d , bifuropyridyl 8b and 8c , and the N-oxide 9 of 8c .     

Photochemical reaction mechanisms of 2-nitrobenzyl compounds: methyl ethers and caged ATP

The mechanism of methanol photorelease from 2-nitrobenzyl methyl ether (1) and 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl methyl ether (2), and of ATP release from adenosine-5'-triphosphate-[P(3)-(1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl)] ester ('caged ATP', 3) was studied in various solvents by laser flash photolysis with UV-vis and IR detection. In addition to the well-known primary aci-nitro transients (A, lambda(max) approximately 400 nm), two further intermediates preceding the release of methanol, namely the corresponding 1,3-dihydrobenz[c]isoxazol-1-ol derivatives (B) and 2-nitrosobenzyl hemiacetals (C), were identified. The dependencies of the reaction rates of A-C on pH and buffer concentrations in aqueous solution were studied in detail. Substantial revision of previously proposed reaction mechanisms for substrate release from 2-nitrobenzyl protecting groups is required: (a) A novel reaction pathway of the aci-tautomers A prevailing in buffered aqueous solutions, e.g., phosphate buffer with pH 7, was found. (b) The cyclic intermediates B were identified for the first time as the products formed by the decay of the aci-tautomers A in solution. A recently proposed reaction pathway bypassing intermediates B (Corrie et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 8546-8554) is shown not to be operative. (c) Hemiacetals C limit the release rate of both 1 (pH < 8) and 2 (pH < 10). This observation is in contrast to a recent claim for related 2-nitrobenzyl methyl ethers (Corrie et al.). Our findings are important for potential applications of the 2-nitrobenzyl protecting group in the determination of physiological response times to bioagents ('caged compounds').     

细长裂江珧乙酸乙酯提取物的化学成分分析

本文对生长在中国南海的细长裂江珧 (PinnaattenuateReeve)乙酸乙酯提取物进行化学成分分析。用柱层析和GC MS从中分离鉴定出 5种甾醇和游离的 3种脂肪酸 ,它们分别是麦角甾-2 6,2 7-双降 -5.2 2 -二烯 -3 β -醇 ;胆甾 -5.2 2 -二烯 -3 β -醇 ;胆甾醇 ;麦角甾 -5.2 2 -二烯 -3 β -醇 ;β -谷甾醇 ;十六酸 ;十七酸和十八酸     

Oxetane from A-nor-steroides: 2-alpha, 5-oxido-A-nor-5-alpha-cholestane, 2-beta, 5-oxido-A-nor-5-beta-cholestane and 2-alpha-ethyl-2-beta,2'-oxido-A-nor-5-alpha-cholestane

Treatment of 2β-tosyloxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane-5-ol ( 2 ) with t-butoxide in t-butanol gave 2α, 5-epoxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane ( 3 ) in quantitative yield. When A-nor-5β-cholestane-2α, 5-diol ( 4 ) was treated with tosyl chloride in pyridine 2β-chloro-A-nor-5β-cholestane-5-ol ( 7 ) and 2α-tosyloxy-A-nor-5β-cholestane-5-ol ( 8 ) were obtained. Whereas the chloride 7 was resistant to t-butoxide the tosylate 8 was transformed into an 1 : 1 mixture of 2α, 5-epoxy-5β-cholestane ( 10 ) and 2ξ-t-butoxy-A-nor-5β-cholestane-5-ol ( 11 ). In 2α-tosyloxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane-5-ol ( 12 ) substitution occurred as the only reaction. Both oxetanes 3 and 10 isomerize after heating above 50° and in polar or protic solvents to form A-nor-Δ³⁽⁵⁾-cholestene-2α-ol ( 6 ) and -2β-ol ( 14 ) respectively. Also, 2, 5-diols are encountered. 2α-Ethyl-2β, 2′-epoxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane ( 23 ) was synthesized starting from A-nor-5α-cholestane-2-one ( 17 ). The intermediates were the ester 16 , the diol 18 , the hydroxy-tosylate 19 and the chlorhydrin 20 . The spirocyclic oxetane 23 was reduced by LiAlH₄ in dioxane (not in ether). By chromatography on silica gel 23 was isomerized to the homoallylic alcohol 21 and transformed into 2-methylene-A-nor-5α-cholestane ( 24 ) by fragmentation. The IR. and NMR. spectra of the new oxetanes were compared with those of a series of known oxetanes.     

Synthesis of 2H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-oles via cyclization of pyrazolacrylonitriles

The reaction of 1-acyl-3-amino-5-pyrazolones 1 with ethyl ethoxymethylenecyanoacetate and ethoxymethylenemalononitrile 2 is described. Thermal cyclization in phenyl ether of the obtained pyrazol-acrylonitriles 3 provides good yields of pyrazolopyridin-3-ol derivatives 4.     

Furopyridines. V. A simple synthesis of furo[2,3-c]pyridine and its 2-and 3-methyl derivatives

A simple synthesis of furo[2,3-c]pyridine and its 2- and 3-methyl derivatives from ethyl 3-hydroxyisonicotinate ( 2 ) is described. The hydroxy ester 2 was O-alkylated with ethyl bromoacetate or ethyl 2-bromopropionate to give the diester 3a or 3b . Cyclization of compound 3a afforded ethyl 3-hydroxyfuro [2,3-c]pyridine-2-carboxylate ( 4 ) which was hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to give furo[2,3-c]pyridin-3(2H)-one ( 5a ). Cyclization of 3b gave the 2-methyl derivative 5b . Reduction of 5a and 5b with sodium borohydride yielded the corresponding hydroxy derivative 6a and 6b , respectively, which were dehydrated with phosphoric acid to give furo[2,3-c]pyridine ( 7a ) and its 2-methyl derivative 7b . 4-Acetylpyridin-3-ol ( 8 ) was O-alkylated with ethyl bromoacetate to give ethyl 2-(4-acetyl-3-pyridyloxy) acetate ( 9 ). Saponification of compound 9 , and the subsequent intramolecular Perkin reaction gave 3-methylfuro[2,3-c]pyridine ( 10 ). Cyclization of 9 with sodium ethoxide gave 3-methylfuro[2,3-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, which in turn was decarboxylated to give compound 10 .