A convenient access to furo[3,2-c]pyridin-6(5H)-ones by the reaction of 5-iodo-4-methoxy-2-pyridones with terminal alkynes under microwave-enhanced Sonogashira conditions

N-Alkyl-3-aryl-5-iodo-4-methoxypyridin-2(1H)-ones readily undergo sequential acetylide cross-coupling, demethylation, and furan annulation under classical Sonogashira reaction conditions to furnish 7-arylfuro[3,2-c]pyridin-4(5H)-ones, a class of hitherto unknown compounds, in a one-pot operation. Microwave irradiation was found to significantly reduce reaction times and to allow lower catalysts and reagent loadings. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.