Synthesis of benzofurans through coupling of dienylacetylenes with carbene complexes: total synthesis of egonol

The reaction of various carbene complexes with dienylacetylenes has been examined. The reaction has been used as the cornerstone for the preparation of the nor-neolignan natural product egonol in five steps from readily available components. In most examples of the carbene-alkyne coupling, the reaction proceeds to form benzofuran derivatives. In the case of one highly functionalized terminal alkyne, a competing rearrangement/cyclization process occurs in preference to the carbene coupling process. The use of silylated alkynes subverts this process.