Cerium ammonium nitrate-mediated the oxidative dimerization of p-alkenylphenols: a new synthesis of substituted (±)-trans-dihydrobenzofurans

A new method for the preparation of substituted dihydrobenzofurans is described. The p-alkenylphenols, mediated by cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN), undergo the oxidative dimerization to generate substituted dihydrobenzofurans including (±)-conocarpan, (±)-licarin A, (±)-acuminatin, as well as their related substituted dihydrobenzofurans.