Investigations of substituted benzofuran-3-carboxylates,benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difurans and benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b']difurans

The Michael addition of ethyl acetoacetate to benzoquinone, toluquinone, and chlorobenzo-quinone leads to formation of substituted 5-hydroxybenzofuran-3-earboxylates and linear benzo-[1,2-b:4,5-b']difurans. The previously reported structural proof for the benzodifurans obtained from chlorobenzoquinone and toluquinone, although correct in the conclusion, is shown to be invalid. Proof of the linear benzodifuran structures was obtained by comparison of the uv spectra with authentic angular benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b']difurans.