Synthesis of 1,3‐Dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates via Intramolecular Cyclization of 2‐[2‐(Dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]‐ 2‐hydroxyalkanoates Followed by Oxidation

A novel and efficient method for the preparation of 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates 4 under mild conditions has been developed. Thus, the reaction of [2‐(dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]lithiums, generated easily from 1‐bromo‐2‐(dimethoxymethyl)benzenes 1 , with α ‐keto esters gives the corresponding 2‐[2‐(dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]‐2‐hydroxyalkanoates 2 . The TsOH‐catalyzed cyclization of these hydroxy acetals is followed by the oxidation of the resulting cyclic acetals 3 with PCC to give the desired products in satisfactory yields. The reaction of [2‐(dimethoxymethyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]lithium with (MeOCO) 2 , followed by treatment with NaBH 4 or organolithiums, affords 2‐[2‐(dimethoxymethyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]‐2‐hydroxyalkanoates 6 , which can similarly be transformed into the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates 7 in reasonable yields.