Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
Published on: February 16, 2018
Synthesis of Benzofuran Derivatives through Cascade Radical Cyclization/Intermolecular Coupling of 2-Azaallyls
Guogang Deng1, Minyan Li2, Kaili Yu1
1Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resources, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Benzofurans are among the most popular structural units in bioactive natural products, however, the synthesis of such structures by radical cyclization cascade reactions is rare. Herein, we report a mild and broadly applicable method for the construction of complex benzofurylethylamine derivatives through a unique radical cyclization cascade mechanism. Single-electron transfer (SET) from 2-azaallyl anions to 2-iodo aryl allenyl ethers initiates a radical cyclization that is followed by intermolecular radical-radical coupling. This expedient approach enables the synthesis of a range of polycyclic benzofurans that would otherwise be difficult to prepare.
Related Concept Videos
Radical Reactivity: Intramolecular vs Intermolecular
Intermolecular Forces in Solutions
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
Intermolecular Forces
Intracellular Signaling Cascades
Intermolecular vs Intramolecular Forces
Real Gases: Effects of Intermolecular Forces and Molecular Volume Deriving Van der Waals Equation

