Green and Efficient Iron-Catalysed Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzofuran-4(5H)-one Derivatives via Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling

An efficient and facile protocol for the synthesis of a multi-functional 6,7-dihydrobenzofuran-4(5H)-ones and their derivatives using iron salt in the presence of air via reactions of readily available dimedone, acetophenone and isocyanide as starting materials. This approach illustrate operational simplicity, offering a modified and expedient methodology for the direct construction of synthetically useful benzofuran derivatives in good to excellent yields. Benzofuran derivatives have many biological importance. This documented strategy, provide a cost effective and environmentally benign alternative to the other existing method.