The Reduction of 2-Benzylidene-3(2H)-benzofuranones with Lithium Aluminium Hydride–Aluminium Chloride

Abstract

The reduction of various 2-benzylidene-3(2H)-benzofuranones with lithium aluminium hydride-aluminium chloride in ether gave the corresponding 2-benzylbenzofurans in moderate yields. The reduction of 6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxybenzoyl)benzofuran also yielded 6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxybenzyl)benzofuran.

Scalable and Straightforward Synthesis of a 2-Alkyl-7-Arylbenzo­thiophene as a GPR52 Agonist via a Hemithioindigo Derivative

“…hemithioindigo 8, followed by dehydration. There had been little previous investigation 17 on such reductions compared with similar reductions of aurones and hemiindigos into benzofurans 18 and indoles, 19 respectively. The reported conditions for reductions of hemithioindigo using triethylsilane and trifluoroacetic acid gave the corresponding benzothiophene in low yield, along with an unexpected rearranged product (a thioflavonol) and other unidentified byproducts.…”