A new synthesis of 2,5-bis(4-cyanophenyl)furan

Abstract

A new 3-step synthesis of 2,5-bis(4-cyanophenyl)furan, a key intermediate in the prepn. of the antimicrobial agents Furamidine and Pafuramidine, is presented. The key step of the synthesis is the prepn. of a 1,4-diketone via the modified Stetter reaction of a 4-cyanophenyl Mannich base as a vinyl ketone precursor with 4-cyanobenzaldehyde. The synthesis has potential for use in the large scale prepn. of the two antimicrobial agents. [on SciFinder(R)]