Efficient synthesis of 5-nitro-benzo[b]furans via 2-bromo-4-nitro-phenyl acetates

Abstract Acetylation/Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction/cyclization has been carried out in one-pot using a Na 2 PdCl 4 /2-(di- tert -butylphosphino)- N -phenylindole/CuI system in TMEDA to give 5-nitro-2-substituted benzo[ b ]furans in excellent yields. We also describe the extension of this method to 4-EWG-2-bromo-phenols obtaining 2,5-disubstituted-benzo[ b ]furans in good yields.