New domino approach for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzo[b]furans via copper-catalyzed multi-component coupling reactions followed by cyclization

An efficient domino process for the construction of 2,3-disubstituted benzo[b]furans has been developed via copper-catalyzed three-component coupling reactions of salicylaldehydes, amines, and alkynes followed by base-assisted O-annulation reaction. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.