An efficient synthesis of benzofuran derivatives under conventional/non-conventional method

1-Methyl-3-ethyl imidazolium bromide [meim]Br/basic alumina (Al2O3) has been found to promote the cyclocondensation of chloroacetone/chloroethyl acetate with salicylaldehydes under conventional as well as microwave irradiation to yield benzofuran derivatives.