The Brönsted acid-catalyzed cascade synthesis of densely substituted benzofurans from easily available salicyl alcohols and biomass-derived furans has been developed. The disclosed sequence includes the intermediate formation of 2-(2-hydroxybenzyl)furans that quickly rearrange into functionalized benzofurans. The established protocol was applied for the total synthesis of sugikurojinol B.
Key words
furan - benzofuran - rearrangement - sugikurojinol B