Hypervalent Iodine(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Arylbenzofurans

Abstract

An alternative route for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzofurans is described by iodine(III)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-hydroxystilbenes using 10 mol% (diacetoxyiodo)benzene [PhI(OAc) 2 ] as catalyst in the presence of m -chloroperbenzoic acid. The 2-arylbenzofurans were isolated in good to excellent yields.