Potassium tert-butoxide promoted annulation of 2-alkynylphenyl propargyl ethers: selective synthesis of benzofuran and 12H-benzoannulene derivatives

J Org Chem. 2013 Nov 1;78(21):11017-31. doi: 10.1021/jo4020062. Epub 2013 Oct 11.

Abstract

We present here our results on potassium tert-butoxide promoted annulation reactions of 2-alkynylphenyl propargyl ethers to give two different types of heterocycles: 3-benzyl-2-alkynylbenzofurans and 12H-benzoannulenbenzo[b]furans. A series of functionalized 2-alkynylphenyl propargyl ethers were efficiently cyclized by potassium tert-butoxide to the corresponding products. The optimized reaction conditions tolerated a large variety of functional groups, including electron-rich, electron-poor, and N-heterocyclic substrates. Selective product formation was obtained by controlling the solvent and temperature. When THF was used at room temperature, 3-benzyl-2-alkynylbenzofuran derivatives were exclusively obtained, while the use of DMF at 60 °C gave selectively 12H-benzoannulen[b]benzofurans.