A simple approach to highly functionalized benzo[b]furans from phenols and aryl iodides via aryl propargyl ethers

A variety of mono- and disubstituted phenols are alkylated with propargyl bromide to give phenyl 2-propynyl ethers, which were further coupled with aryl iodides under Sonogashira reaction conditions to give 3-phenoxy-1-aryl-1-propyne derivatives. The latter compounds underwent an initial Claisen rearrangement followed by ring closure to give functionalized benzo[b]furans in moderate to good yields.