“…Lithiation of benzofuran-3-carboxylic acid (44) with LDA in THF at -78 °C gave the corresponding 2-lithio reagent 45, which on reaction with various electrophiles gave the corresponding 2-substituted derivatives 46 (Scheme 16) in 75-100% yields. 215,216 Lithiation of benzofuran-2-carboxylic acid took place at the 3-position. 216 i, Electrophile In contrast, lithiation of 47 with t-BuLi (2.0 equivalents) in the absence of TMEDA in THF at -20 °C, followed by cyanation, took place at the C-5 position to give 5-substituted derivative 51 in 71% yield via formation of lithium reagent 50 (Scheme 18).…”