A concise synthesis of functionalized 2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2-b], [3,2-c], and [2,3-b]pyridines

Abstract A strategy for the efficient and rapid one-pot synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2- b ], [3,2- c ], and [2,3- b ]pyridines from readily available o -nitropicolines and aromatic aldehydes is described. The key transformation involves reaction of o -nitropicolines with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of TBAF and Hunig's base giving rise to functionalized products having molecular complexity suitable for further manipulation.