Regioselective preparation of benzo[b]furans from phenols and α-bromoketones

In this paper, a fully regiocontrolled synthesis of either 2- and 3-substituted benzo[b]furans is described. Direct reaction between phenols and α-bromoacetophenones in the presence of neutral alumina yields 2-substituted benzo[b]furans with complete regiocontrol. When a basic salt such as potassium carbonate is used, the corresponding 2-oxoether is obtained. Cyclization of these latter compounds promoted by neutral alumina yields the corresponding 3-substituted benzo[b]furans. Using the former method, Moracin M and other analogues can be obtained from commercial sources in two preparative steps. DFT calculations provide reasonable reaction paths to understand the formation of 2-substituted benzo[b]furans.     

A new and efficient synthesis of 4-functionalized benzo[b]furans from 2,3-dihalophenols

Tandem Sonogashira coupling/5-endo-dig cyclization reactions on 2,3-dihalophenols suppose a straightforward entry to 4-halobenzo[b]furans, which can be easily transformed into 4-functionalized benzo[b]furans, that are difficult to synthesize by other procedures. On the other hand, the starting 2,3-dihalophenols are efficiently prepared from commercially available 3-halophenols, via their N,N-diethyl carbamates by selective lithiation at the 2-positions by treatment with s-BuLi/TMEDA or LDA at low temperature and reaction with halogen electrophilic reagents.     

Sequential and one-pot reactions of phenols with bromoalkynes for the synthesis of (Z)-2-bromovinyl phenyl ethers and benzo[b]furans

Benzo[b]furans were prepared in one pot based on the addition/palladium-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization of phenols with bromoalkynes. The addition reactions of phenols to bromoalkynes generated (Z)-2-bromovinyl phenyl ethers in high yields with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. The obtained (Z)-2-bromovinyl phenyl ethers subsequently proceeded by intramolecular cyclization to afford 2-substituted benzo[b]furans in good yields through palladium-catalyzed direct C-H bond functionalizations. It is important to note that the transformation of phenols with bromoalkynes into benzo[b]furans could be carried out in one pot with a simple and efficient tandem procedure.     

New synthesis of 2-aryl-3-substituted benzo[b]furans from benzyl 2-halophenyl ethers

Treatment of benzyl 2-halophenyl ethers with 3 equiv of t-BuLi results in Li-halogen exchange and lithiation at benzylic methylene simultaneously. These dianions do not undergo Wittig rearrangement and can be trapped with electrophiles. Their reactions with carboxylic esters afford the corresponding 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furans as a mixture of diastereoisomers. Subsequent acid-catalyzed or mediated dehydration gives moderate to good overall yield of a variety of 2-aryl-3-substituted benzo[b]furans.     

Preparation of 2-, 3-, 4- and 7-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-alkylvinyl)benzo[b]furans and their BLT1 and/or BLT2 inhibitory activities

Several 2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-alkylvinylbenzo[b]furans were designed to find a selective leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor antagonist. 2-(2-Alkylcarbamoyl-1-alkylvinyl)benzo[b]furans having a substituent group at the 3-position, 4-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)benzo[b]furans having a substituent group at the 3-position, and 7-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)benzo[b]furans and 3-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-alkylvinyl)benzo[b]furans were prepared and evaluated for LTB4 receptor (BLT1 and BLT2) inhibitory activities. (E)-3-Amino-4-[2-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylcarbamoyl]-1-methylvinyl]benzo[b]furan ((E)-17c) showed potent and selective inhibitory activity for BLT2. On the other hand, (E)-7-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)benzo[b]furan ((E)-27a) showed potent inhibitory activity for both BLT1 and BLT2.     

Synthesis and biological activities of novel furo[2,3,4-jk][2]benzazepin-4(3H)-one derivatives

A novel seven-membered lactam formation method has been established by intramolecular ring closure reaction of 4-bromo-(E)-3-[(2-alkylvinyl)carbonylamino]benzo[b]furans under Heck coupling conditions. A number of furo[2,3,4-jk][2]benzazepin-4(3H)-ones, tricyclicbenzo[b]furans, have been prepared by this method and evaluated for their leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitory activities.     

2-Amino-3-(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzo[b]furans

The corresponding 2-amino-3-(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzo[b]furans were obtained by reaction of 2,3,5-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone with 2-cyanomethylbenzimidazoles. It is shown that new benzo[b]furo[2′,3′∶4,5]pyrimido[1,6-a]benzimidazole polynuclear heterocyclic systems (bases and quaternary salts) are formed in the reaction of these products with acylating agents. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 164–166, February, 1980.     

Syntheses of 3-acetoacetylaminobenzo[b]furan derivatives having cysteinyl leukotriene 2 receptor antagonistic activity

Novel 3-acetoacetylaminobenzo[b]furan derivatives having a modified triene system at the 3-position were synthesized starting with 3-aminobenzo[b]furans. The enol isomers, 3-[(3-hydroxybut-2-enonyl)amino]benzo[b]furans (), of the 3-acetoacetylaminobenzo[b]furans were obtained as stable isomers owing to formation of a hydrogen bonding between the enol hydroxyl group and the amidocarbonyl group. The planarity of the C-2 substituent through the C-3 side chain suggested the existence of a modified conjugational triene system in the enol compound. Cysteinyl leukotriene 1 and 2 receptor antagonistic activities for these compounds were evaluated. 2-(4-Cyanobenzoyl or ethoxycarbonyl)-3-[(2-cyano-3-hydroxybut-2-enonyl)amino]benzo[b]furans (, ) were moderately active.     

Synthesis of 2-arylbenzo[b]furans via copper(I)-catalyzed coupling of o-iodophenols and aryl acetylenes

[reaction: see text] We report a copper(I)-catalyzed procedure for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzo[b]furans. This protocol can be used to synthesize a variety of 2-arylbenzo[b]furans in good to excellent yields. This method can tolerate a variety of functional groups, does not require the use of expensive additives, and is palladium-free.     

Synthesis of 3-Methylthio-benzo[b]furans/Thiophenes via Intramolecular Cyclization of 2-Alkynylanisoles/Sulfides Mediated by DMSO/DMSO-d6 and SOCl2

The reaction of 2-alkynylanisoles/sulfides with SOCl2 and DMSO was conducted to conveniently furnish the biologically interesting 3-(methylthio)-benzo[b]furans/...     

Efficient synthesis of 5-nitro-benzo[b]furans via 2-bromo-4-nitro-phenyl acetates

Acetylation/Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction/cyclization has been carried out in one-pot using a Na₂PdCl₄/2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)-N-phenylindole/CuI system in TMEDA to give 5-nitro-2-substituted benzo[b]furans in excellent yields. We also describe the extension of this method to 4-EWG-2-bromo-phenols obtaining 2,5-disubstituted-benzo[b]furans in good yields.     

Tungsten-catalyzed heterocycloisomerization approach to 4,5-dihydro-benzo[b]furans and -indoles

A W(CO)(5)·THF-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bicyclo[4.1.0] substrates to afford mono C4-substituted 4,5-dihydro-benzo[b]furans and -indoles is reported. The title compounds are versatile intermediates that lead to a range of fused bicycles including the cores of various furan-, benzofuran-, and indole-containing natural products. In many cases, the functionalization of the dihydro-benzo[b]furans and -indoles is orthogonal to that of the corresponding benzofurans and indoles and, thus, offers complementary approaches for synthesis.     

Halocyclization of 2-alkynylthioanisoles by cupric halides: synthesis of 2-substituted 3-halobenzo[b]thiophenes

Reaction of 2-alkynylthioanisoles 3 with 2 equiv of CuX₂ (X=Br or Cl) in refluxing CH₃CN for 2.5 h gave the 2-substituted 3-halobenzo[b]thiophenes 4 in good yields.     

Synthesis of 7-(furan-2-yl)-7,8,10,10a-tetrahydro-6<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]-chromen-6,9(6a<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-diones

Methods of synthesis were developed for 7-(furan-2-yl)-substituted 7,8,10,10a-tetrahydrobenzo[c] chromen-6,9-diones by regioselective [4+2]-cycloaddition of coumarin-3-carboxylic acids to 2-(3-trimethylsiloxybuta- 1,3-dien-1-yl)furans. The [4+2]-cycloaddition was efficiently catalyzed with L-proline.     

A new concept for the preparation of beta-L- and beta-D-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues

[reaction: see text] A new method for the synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues has been developed. An electrochemical activation of 2-substituted furans is followed by the coupling with a pyrimidine or purine base. This gives planar furyl nucleosides as key intermediates, which are hydrogenated cis-selectively to give the corresponding beta-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides as racemic mixtures. An enzymatic kinetic resolution gives rise to beta-D- and beta-L-configured derivatives in high optical purity. This is exemplified by the synthesis of beta-D- and beta-L-3'-deoxythymidine.     

Iodine(III)-Mediated Tandem Oxidative Cyclization for Construction of 2-Nitrobenzo[b]furans

Various 3-alkyl-2-nitrobenzo[b]furans were synthesized from common intermediate 2-(2-nitroethyl)phenols via a hypervalent iodine-induced oxidative cyclization, with good to excellent yields. This facile route is able to efficiently functionalize 2-nitrobenzo[b]furans, which are difficult to obtain by classical methods.     

A convenient preparation of 3-substituted furans: synthesis of perillene and dendrolasin

A variety of 3-substituted furans, including the natural products perillene and dendrolasin, are obtained in good yield via reductive annulation of 1,1,1-trichloroethyl propargyl ethers using catalytic Cr(II) regenerated by Mn/TMSCl. [reaction: see text]     

An efficient synthesis and substitution of 3-aroyl-2-bromobenzo[b]furans

A convenient method for the synthesis of 2-bromo-3-aroyl-benzo[b]furans from readily accessible precursors has been developed. The 2-bromo group has been employed as a versatile synthetic handle in both palladium-mediated couplings and direct nucleophilic substitutions to give access to a wide range of 2-substituted-3-aroyl-benzo[b]furans.     

1,4-Difluoro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene as a precursor for iterative double benzyne-furan Diels-Alder reactions

[reaction: see text] The use of 1,4-difluoro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene as a novel precursor for iterative two-directional benzyne-furan Diels-Alder reactions, using a range of 2- and 3-substituted furans, is reported. Substituted oxabenzonorbornadienes were synthesized following the initial Diels-Alder reaction, which upon ring opening under acidic conditions gave substituted naphthol derivatives. Highly substituted anthracenols were generated in the second benzyne-furan Diels-Alder reaction following acid-catalyzed isomerization of the cycloadducts.     

Complete control of regioselectivity in the intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 2-alkenyl-3(2H)-furanones by the length of the side chain

The 2-(omega-alkenyl)-substituted 2-methyl-3(2H)-furanones 2a and 2b were prepared from biacetyl (3) in four reaction steps and in overall yields of 20% and 21%, respectively. They underwent a clean intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition upon irradiation at lambda = 350 nm. Whereas compound 2a reacted in the expected manner and yielded 7-oxabicyclo[3.2.1.0(3,6)]octane 7 (87% yield), the regioselectivity in the photocycloaddition of compound 2b was completely reversed. The reaction led to compound 8 (92% yield) with the unusual 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1.0(3,8)]nonane skeleton, the structure of which was established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.