The STOBBE condensation. X. The cyclisation of (E)-3-methoxycarbonyl-4-(5′-methyl-2′-furyl)-but-3-enoic acid,and (E)−3-methoxycarbonyl-4-(2′-furyl)-pent-3-enoic acid,to Benzofuran Derivatives

The condensation of 5-methyl-furan-2-aldehyde and 2-furyl-methyl ketone with dimethyl succinate using either potassium t-butoxide or sodium hydride as condensing agents, gives predominantly (E)-3-methoxycarbonyl-4-(5′-methyl-2′-furyl)-but-3-enoic acid 1a and (E)-3-methoxy-carbonyl-4-(2′furyl)-pent-3-enoic acid 5 respectively. Their configurations are inferred by cyclisation with sodium acetate in acetic anhydride to the corresponding benzofuran derivatives 2,6 . Alcoholysis of (E)-3-carboxy-4-(5′-methyl-2′-furyl)-but-3-enoic anhydride 3 gives the half-ester 1c which is isomeric with the half-ester 1a . A competing side reaction also gives the self-condensation product of the succinic ester 4 .