First Synthesis of 2-Ferrocenoyl-3-Methylbenzofuran Derivatives

The incorporation of the 3-methylbenzofuran moiety into the ferrocene nucleus leading to a series of structurally novel hybrids 2-ferrocenoyl-3-methylbenzofuran derivatives has been achieved in good yields of 76-85% through the one-pot Rap-Stoermer reaction of 1-chloroacetylferrocene with 2′-hydroxyacetophenones in refluxing CH3CN with the presence of K2CO3as base and PEG-400 as catalyst. These newly-synthesised compounds could be good candidates for the development of compounds for use in medicinal chemistry.