Regulatable selective synthesis of benzofurans and coumarins from aryl propargyl ethers via an electrochemical tandem cyclization reaction

Abstract

A divergent protocol for the selective synthesis of benzofuran-2-carboxaldehydes and 3-organoselenyl-2H-coumarins from propargylic aryl ethers in the presence of dialkyl(aryl) diselenides under electrochemical reaction conditions was established. By adjusting the reactant ratio, reaction time and temperature, two significant heterocyclic derivatives could be selectively obtained with high yields, respectively. The reaction was performed under simple reaction conditions and was suitable for various substituted propargylic aryl ethers and dialkyl(aryl) diselenides.