Synlett 2009(12): 1951-1954  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1217525
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of Furo[3,4-c]furanones via DDQ Treatment of Furo[3,4-c]pyranone Derivatives

Tao Meng, Cyril A. Fuhrer, Robert Häner*
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestr. 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Fax: +41(31)6318057; e-Mail: robert.haener@ioc.unibe.ch;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 15 April 2009
Publication Date:
01 July 2009 (online)

Abstract

A new method for the synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted furo[3,4-c]furanones is described. The title compounds are obtained by simple treatment of furo[3,4-c]pyranones with DDQ; furo[3,4-c]furanones are obtained in moderate yields. A possible mechanism for the conversion is discussed.

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Representative Analytical Data of Furo[3,4-c]furanones; Compound 2: pale-yellow solid; mp 172-175 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 8.13-8.16 (m, 2 H), 7.60-7.62 (m, 2 H), 7.47-7.51 (m, 2 H), 7.35 (m, 1 H), 7.11-7.13 (m, 2 H), 5.59 (s, 2 H), 3.83 (s, 3 H). ¹³C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 164.37 (C), 160.70 (C), 149.78 (C), 140.77 (C), 129.08 (2 × CH), 128.70 (C), 128.48 (C), 127.86 (CH), 127.17 (2 × CH), 123.79 (2 × CH), 120.62 (C), 114.70 (2 × CH), 114.15 (C), 65.85 (CH2), 55.38 (CH3). EI-MS:
m/z = 306. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H +] calcd for C19H15O4: 307.0970; found: 307.0965. Detailed ¹H, ¹³C NMR and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC and HMQC) analysis were used for further structural assignment. The following NMR signals were observed: three sets of 12 aromatic carbons (9 of which are H-substituted), one methylene group [δH = 5.59 (s, 2 H) and δC = 65.85], methoxyl group [δH =3.83 (s, 3 H) and δC = 55.38] and carbonyl group [δC = 164.37], nine aromatic protons and 12 carbons on two phenyl rings at [δH2 ,H6  = 7.60-7.62 (m, 2 H) and δC2 ,C6  = 123.79 × 2], [δH3 ,H5  = 7.47-7.51 (m, 2 H) and δC3 ,C5  = 129.08 × 2], [δH4  = 7.35 (m, 1 H) and δC4  = 127.86], [δH2 ′′ ,H6 ′′ = 8.13-8.16 (m, 2 H) and δC2 ′′ ,C6 ′′ = 127.17 × 2], [δH3 ′′ ,H5 ′′ = 7.11-7.13 (m, 2 H) and δC3 ′′ ,C5 ′′ = 114.70 × 2], and [δC1  = 128.48 and δC1 ′′ = 120.62], carbons of the furan ring at [δC4 = 140.77, δC6 = 149.78, δC3a = 114.15 and δC6a = 128.70].
Compound 6a: white solid; mp 195-197 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 8.28-8.31 (m, 2 H), 7.68-7.72 (m, 2 H), 7.47-7.59 (m, 5 H), 7.38 (m, 1 H), 5.64 (s, 2 H). ¹³C NMR (75 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 150.81 (C), 135.48 (C), 130.80 (CH), 130.02 (2 × CH), 129.94 (2 × CH), 129.88 (C), 129.42 (C), 129.01 (2 × CH), 128.84 (C), 127.65 (CH), 127.45 (CH), 126.47 (2 × CH), 125.06 (CH), 66.62 (CH2). EI-MS: m/z = 276. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H+] calcd for C18H13O3: 277.0865; found: 277.0859.
Compound 6b: yellow solid; mp 177-179 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 8.25-8.28 (m, 2 H), 7.63-7.66 (m, 2 H), 7.51-7.57 (m, 2 H), 7.45 (m, 1 H), 7.06-7.09 (m, 2 H), 5.59 (s, 2 H), 3.86 (s, 3 H). ¹³C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 164.73 (C), 159.63 (C), 150.14 (C), 142.45 (C), 129.68 (CH), 128.94 (2 × CH), 128.51 (C), 126.15 (C), 125.74 (2 × CH), 125.52 (2 × CH), 121.96 (C), 115.84 (C), 114.69 (2 × CH), 65.59 (CH3), 55.42 (CH2). EI-MS: m/z = 306. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H+] calcd for C19H15O4: 307.0970; found: 307.0965.
Compound 6c: white solid; mp 165-167 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 8.12-8.14 (m, 2 H), 7.42-7.52 (m, 4 H), 7.28-7.34 (m, 3 H), 5.43 (s, 2 H), 2.41 (s, 3 H). EI-MS: m/z = 290. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M+] calcd for C19H14O3: 290.0943; found: 290.0937.
Compound 6d: white solid; mp 176-178 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 8.23-8.27 (m, 2 H), 7.44-7.53 (m, 4 H), 7.35 (m, 1 H), 7.16-7.22 (m, 2 H), 5.46 (s, 2 H).
EI-MS: m/z = 294. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H+] calcd for C18H12FO3: 295.0770; found: 295.0765.
Compound 6e: amorphous yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 8.28-8.33 (m, 2 H), 7.61-7.64 (m, 2 H), 7.29-7.35 (m, 2 H), 7.04-7.08 (m, 2 H), 5.59 (s, 2 H), 3.86 (s, 3 H). EI-MS: m/z = 324. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M+] calcd for C19H13FO4: 324.0798; found: 324.0792.
Compound 6f: amorphous white solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 8.33-8.38 (m, 2 H), 7.67-7.70 (m, 4 H), 7.32-7.38 (m, 2 H), 5.63 (s, 2 H). EI-MS: m/z = 372. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H+] calcd for C18H11BrFO3: 372.9876; found: 372.9870.
Compound 6g: yellow solid; mp 178-181 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d 6): δ = 8.22-8.25 (m, 2 H), 7.08-7.11 (m, 2 H), 6.90 (s, 2 H), 5.63 (s, 2 H), 3.93 (s, 6 H), 3.89 (s, 3 H), 3.76 (s, 3 H). ¹³C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 164.77 (C), 161.04 (C), 153.94 (2 × CH), 151.10 (C), 141.23 (C), 138.38 (C), 127.70 (2 × C), 127.35 (2 × C), 124.77 (C), 121.26 (C), 114.46 (2 × CH), 114.09 (C), 101.40 (2 × CH), 65.36 (CH2), 61.02 (CH3), 56.30 (2 × CH3), 55.39 (CH3).
EI-MS: m/z = 396. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H+] calcd for C22H21O7: 397.1287; found: 397.1282.

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Reactions were carried out under an open atmosphere.