One-pot synthesis of 12H-benzo[b]xanthen-12-ones and naphtha[2,3-b]furans from non-naphthalene substrates

An efficient one-pot synthesis of 12H-benzo[b]xanthen-12-ones via an oxidant initiated and base promoted tandem reaction of 2-(4-(2-haloaryl)-4-hydroxybut-1-ynyl)benzaldehydes has been developed. By using similar strategy, a one-pot synthesis of naphtha[2,3-b]furans from the cascade reaction of 2-(4-hydroxy-but-1-ynyl)benzaldehydes with 2-bromoacetonitrile or α-bromocarbonyl compounds has also been achieved.