A mild and efficient method for the synthesis of a new class of furo(3,2-c)chromenes in aqueous media

An efficient synthesis of 2-hydroxy-3-[2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene]-2-phenyl-2, 3-dihydro-4 H-furo[3, 2-c]chromene-4(2H)-one is described. This involves the reaction between dibenzoylacetylene and 4-hydroxycoumarine in the presence of NaH (10 mol %) in nearly quantitative yield. Treatment of this heterocyclic system with trimethyl chlorosilane in CHCl3 leads quantitatively to 4-oxo-3-[2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene]-2-phenyl-3H, 4H-furo[3,2-c]chromene-1-ium chloride. Direct addition of nucleophiles, such as alcohols, amines or trialkyl phosphites to this salt in water as the solvent produces functionalized 2-phenyl-4H-furo[3,2-c] chromen derivatives in excellent yields.