Catalytic Carbonylative Double Cyclization of 2-(3-Hydroxy-1-yn-1-yl)phenols in Ionic Liquids Leading to Furobenzofuranone Derivatives

A catalytic carbonylative double cyclization method for the synthesis of furo[3,4-b]benzofuran-1(3H)-ones is reported. It is based on the reaction between readily available 2-(3-hydroxy-1-yn-1-yl)phenols, CO, and oxygen carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of PdI2 (1 mol %) in conjunction with KI (20 mol %) and 2 equiv of diisopropylethylamine at 80 degrees C for 24 h under 30 atm of a 1:4 mixture of CO-air. Interestingly, the process was not selective when carried out in classical organic non-nucleophilic solvents (such as MeCN or DME), leading to a mixture of the benzofurofuranone derivative and the benzofuran ensuing from simple cycloisomerization, whereas it turned out chemo…