| Abstract: | The reduction of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanons 1a-c was investigated using different reducing agents. Sodium borohydride reacts with type 1 compounds by loss of water to yield 4-(arylmethylene)-2,3(4H,5H)-furandiones 2a-c . Platinum or charcoal supported by pallodium chloride transforms 1a to 4-benzyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone ( 3). Compounds 2a and 2b react with o-phenylenediamine to give 3-(E-(1′-hydroxymethyl-2′-aryl)ethenyl]-2-quinoxalinones 4a and 4b . The lactone 3 under the same conditions splits out formaldehyde and forms 3-(2′-phenylethyl)-2-quinoxalinone ( 6 ). The structure assignments of the novel compounds are based on elemental analysis and nmr as well as ir spectroscopic data. |
