Interrupting Base-Mediated Benzofuran Ring Transformation with Michael Acceptors
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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Efficient Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzenes in Water via Persulfate-promoted Benzannulation of α,β-Unsaturated Compounds and Alkynes
Published on: December 16, 2019
Kolluru Srinivas1, Rashmi Sharma1, Chepuri V Ramana1
1Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory , Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract:
A simple two-stage approach for the synthesis of 3-(2-arylbenzofuran-3-yl)propanoates and propanamides has been developed employing simple acrylates and acrylamides and readily available 3-aroylbenzofurans. The key step of this process involves a base-mediated ring opening of the 3-aroylbenzofurans and subsequent Michael addition of the resulting 1,3-dicarbonyl intermediate with acrylate/acrylamide, followed by the deformylation in one-pot. The resulting products undergo an acid-mediated dehydrative cyclization to arrive at these targets.
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