Palladium catalysed arylation of 6,8-dimethoxybenzofuranone

Practical, modular, and general synthesis of 3-coumaranones through gold-catalyzed intermolecular alkyne oxidation strategy

A gold-catalyzed intermolecular alkyne oxidation for the preparation of 3-coumaranones has been developed. Using 8-isopropylquinoline N-oxides as oxidants, the reactions of o-ethynylanisoles afford versatile 3-coumaranones in moderate to good isolated yields. The synthetic utility of this chemistry is also indicated by the synthesis of the natural product sulfuretin.

Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of aryloxyketones for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans

A highly efficient palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of aryloxyketones has been developed, allowing for facile installation of various (hetero)aryl groups at C2 position in good to excellent yields. Subsequent cyclodehydration of the resulting α-arylated aryloxyketones provided rapid access to diverse 2,3-disubstitured benzofurans.

Stereoselective synthesis of the rocaglamide skeleton via a silyl vinylketene formation/[4 + 1] annulation sequence

The tricyclic core of the cyclopentabenzofurans has been prepared in an efficient and stereoselective manner utilizing an intramolecular silyl vinylketene formation/[4 + 1] annulation sequence. This novel approach affords the ABC ring system where the adjacent phenyl and aryl substituents of the C ring have the required cis relationship.