A Pd-Catalyzed Heteroannulation Approach to 2,3-Disubstituted Furo[3,2-c]coumarins

The Pd-catalyzed cyclofunctionalization of 3-alkynyl-4-methoxycoumarins with aryl halides resulted in the selective formation of 3-arylfuro[3,2-c]coumarins in lieu of the expected regioisomeric 3-arylfuro[2,3-b]chromones. A mechanism involving the linear to angular rearrangement of a Pd-containing furan intermediate was proposed.