Base-Mediated Cyclization Reaction of 2-(5-Hydroxy-1-pentynyl)benzonitriles to 4-Amino-2,3-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]furanes and Synthesis of Furanonaphthoquinones
An efficient transformation of 2-(5-hydroxy-1-pentynyl)benzonitriles 5 to furanonaphthoquinones 11 is presented. Treatment of 5 with 1.5 equiv of NaOMe in DMSO at 140 °C for 0.5 h gave 6 in good yields. Conversion of 6 to 11 was carried out by oxidation of 6 with Fremy’s salt and KH2PO4 in acetone and water, followed by dehydrogenation using palladium on charcoal in diphenylether at reflux temperature.