A simple approach to the synthesis of furofurans and furopyrroles using 3-phenacylated tetrahydro-2-imino-3-furancarbonitriles

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-09-S(S)48

A new and easy synthetic route to furo[2,3-b]furans 7a-d and furo[2,3-b]pyrroles 8a-d has been achieved by the C-phenacylation/cyclization reactions of 2-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-furancarbonitrile (5). Thermal treatment of the key intermediate 3-phenacylated t

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-09-S(S)48

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010
637
HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010, pp. 637 - 644. © The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 7th July, 2009, Accepted, 18th August, 2009, Published online, 18th August, 2009
DOI: 10.3987/COM-09-S(S)48
A SIMPLE APPROACH TO THE SYNTHESIS OF FUROFURANS AND
FUROPYRROLES USING 3-PHENACYLATED TETRAHYDRO-2-
IMINO-3-FURANCARBONITRILES
Hiroshi Maruoka,* Fumi Okabe, Eiichi Masumoto, Toshihiro Fujioka, and
Kenji Yamagata
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8ꢀ19ꢀ1 Nanakuma,
Jonanꢀku, Fukuoka 814ꢀ0180, Japan
E-mail: maruoka@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
Abstract – A new and easy synthetic route to furo[2,3-b]furans 7aꢀd and
furo[2,3-b]pyrroles 8aꢀd has been achieved by the C-phenacylation/cyclization
reactions of 2-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-furancarbonitrile (5). Thermal treatment of
the key intermediate 3-phenacylated tetrahydro-2-imino-3-furancarbonitriles
6aꢀd, which were prepared from compound 5 and phenacyl bromides, e.g.
phenacyl bromide, 4-chlorophenacyl bromide, 4-methylphenacyl bromide and
4-methoxyphenacyl bromide, with acetic anhydride caused intramolecular
cyclization to yield the corresponding furo[2,3-b]furans 7aꢀd. On the other hand,
methanolic sodium methoxide-assisted cyclocondensation of compounds 6aꢀd
gave the corresponding furo[2,3-b]pyrroles 8aꢀd.
INTRODUCTION
The fused heterocyclic systems represent important building blocks due to their aromaticity. Aromaticity
is considered as one of the most important concepts in modern organic chemistry. The quantitative
relationships among the magnetic, energetic and geometric criteria of aromaticity have been demonstrated
recently for a wide ranging set of five-membered heterocycles.1ꢀ6 There are four possible modes of 5:5
fusion of the simple five-membered heterocycles leading to structures 1ꢀ4, wherein X and Y may be the
same or different heteroatoms and represent O, NR, S, Se and very rarely Te (Figure 1). The positional
isomers 1ꢀ4 have interesting features and their stabilities and properties are related to the positions of
heteroatoms.

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010
Y
X
Y
Y
X
Y
X
X
(1) [2,3-b]
(2) [3,2-b]
(3) [2,3-c] or [3,4-b]
(4) [3,4-c]
3
4
3
4
2
5
2
5
6
O
1
N
H
O
1
O
6
6H-furo[2,3-b]pyrrole
furo[2,3-b]furan
Figure 1. Typical heterobicycles: bicyclic 5-5 systems
On the other hand, hydrogenated heterobicycles are an important class of natural products and have
potential uses in many fields. For example it is known that the partially hydrogenated furo[2,3-b]furan
ring is embodied in large number of natural products, particularly in some insect antifeeding compounds
such as clerodin and azadirachtin.7ꢀ12 For this reason, the synthesis of hydrogenated heterobicycles
continues to attract attention and provides an interesting challenge. Although many synthetic methods for
such furo[2,3-b]furans have been reported,13ꢀ18 there are relatively few methods in the literature describing
the preparation of furo[2,3-b]pyrroles.19 Therefore, there is still a need for synthetic methods suitable for
their analogues. In the course of our studies on heterocyclic ꢁ-enaminonitriles, we have discussed the
synthesis of fused heterocyclic compounds such as furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines,20,21 furo[2,3-b]pyridines22 and
thieno[3,4-b]pyrroles.23 In this context, we have been interested in the development of the methods for the
synthesis of heterobicycles, such as furofurans and furopyrroles. Thus, we herein wish to report a simple
and efficient method for preparing furo[2,3-b]furan and furo[2,3-b]pyrrole derivatives 7aꢀd and 8aꢀd.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Firstly, we investigated the reaction of 3-phenacylated tetrahydro-2-imino-3-furancarbonitrile 6a and
acetic anhydride (Scheme 1). 3-Phenacylated compound 6a was easily prepared by treatment of
2-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-furancarbonitrile (5) and phenacyl bromide according to our previous procedure.24
In addition, we have also shown the C-phenacylation reaction of 4,5-dihydro-2-(substituted amino)-3-
furancarbonitriles with phenacyl bromides.25 Hence, we tried the intramolecular cyclization of
3-phenacylated tetrahydro-2-imino-3-furancarbonitriles as the key intermediates. As a consequence, when
compound 6a was treated with acetic anhydride at 80 °C for 3 h, furo[2,3-b]furan 7a was obtained in 89%
yield (Scheme 1). This compound 7a was characterized by spectroscopic analysis (see experimental
section). For example, the IR spectrum of 7a displays bands at 3179 cm-1 due to an amido group and at
1
1668 and 1649 cm-1 due to an amido carbonyl groups. The H NMR spectrum of 7a exhibits a
three-proton singlet at ꢂ 1.92 attributable to the N-acetyl protons, a one-proton singlet at ꢂ 5.79

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010
639
attributable to the olefin proton and a one-proton singlet at ꢀ 9.42 due to the acetylamino proton. The 13C
NMR spectrum of 7a shows a signal at ꢀ 22.7 due to the methyl carbon of the N-acetyl function, a signal
at ꢀ 95.8 due to the olefin carbon, and a signal at ꢀ 169.3 due to the amido carbonyl carbon. Formation of
7a is assumed to proceed via N-acetylation of 6a to yield the non-isolable intermediate A, which
subsequently cyclized to 7a.
CN
NC
O
R
Ac2O
R
O
NAc
O
O
NC
R
O
NHAc
CN
BrCH2COR
NaH
A
7aꢀd
NH2
NH
O
O
6aꢀd
5
CN
CN
R
6ꢀ8
MeOH
NaOMe
a
b
c
C6H5
R
R
ꢀH2O
4-Cl-C6H4
4-Me-C6H4
4-MeO-C6H4
O
N
O
N
OMe
8aꢀd
d
B
Scheme 1
Table 1. One-pot synthesis of furo[2,3-b]furan and furo[2,3-b]pyrrole derivatives 7aꢀd and 8aꢀd starting from 5
Entry
Substrate
Product
Yield (%)
Entry
Substrate
Product
Yield (%)
1
2
3
4
5
5
5
5
7a
7b
7c
7d
56
57
42
70
5
6
7
8
5
5
5
5
8a
8b
8c
8d
40
25
24
54
Next, we also studied the behavior of 6a under the basic conditions using sodium methoxide. Thus, 6a
reacted in methanolic sodium methoxide at 60 °C for 2 h to afford the furo[2,3-b]pyrrole 8a in 65% yield
most likely via the nucleophilic addition of methanol to the intermediate B, which would be probably
1
formed by cyclocondensation via dehydration (Scheme 1). The H NMR spectrum of 8a exhibits a
13
three-proton singlet at ꢀ 3.75 attributable to the methoxy protons. The C NMR spectrum of 8a shows a
signal near ꢀ 52.7 due to the methyl carbon of the methoxy function and a signal at ꢀ 170.7 due to the C-5
carbon (see experimental section). In these cyclization reactions, none of the possible N-acetylated
product A and condensed compound B could be detected, and this could be explained by the instability
structure of A and B. In fact, furofuran 7a and furopyrrole 8a were the only isolable products.

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On the basis of these results, we have tried to directly construct furofuran and furopyrrole derivatives
7aꢀd and 8aꢀd starting from compound 5 and phenacyl bromides in a one-pot process (Scheme 1). The
best results are shown in Table 1. Indeed, when a mixture of 5 and phenacyl bromides, e.g. phenacyl
bromide, 4-chlorophenacyl bromide, 4-methylphenacyl bromide and 4-methoxyphenacyl bromide, in the
presence of sodium hydride in DMF was stirred at room temperature for 1 h and then the reaction mixture
was treated with acetic anhydride at 80 °C for 3 h, the desired furo[2,3-b]furans 7aꢀd were obtained in
moderate yields (entries 1ꢀ4 and see experimental section). Similarly, after the C-phenacylation of 5, the
resulting mixture was treated with sodium methoxide in refluxing methanol for 2 h, the
furo[2,3-b]pyrroles 8aꢀd were obtained in moderate yields (entries 5ꢀ8). By comparison of the IR spectra,
NMR spectra, mass spectra and elemental analyses of 7bꢀd and 8bꢀd it seems that the structural
assignments given to these compounds are correct.
In conclusion, we have developed a simple method for the synthesis of furofuran and furopyrrole
derivatives 7aꢀd and 8aꢀd, proceeding by C-phenacylation and subsequent intramolecular cyclization
when 2-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-furancarbonitrile (5) is treated with phenacyl bromides. This methodology
offers significant advantages with regard to the simplicity of operation. Functionalized furofuran and
furopyrrole derivatives are important synthons in organic synthesis and for the preparation of biologically
active compounds with interest in medicinal chemistry.
EXPERIMENTAL
All melting points are uncorrected. The IR spectra were recorded on a JASCO FT/IR-4100 spectrometer.
The 1H and 13C NMR spectra were measured with a JEOL JNM-A500 spectrometer at 500.00 and 125.65
1
13
MHz, respectively. The H and C chemical sifts (ꢁ) are reported in parts per million (ppm) relative to
TMS as internal standard. Positive FAB mass spectra were obtained on a JEOL JMS-700T spectrometer.
Elemental analyses were performed on YANACO MT-6 CHN analyzer. The starting compound,
2-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-furancarbonitrile (5), was prepared in this laboratory according to the procedure
reported in literature.26
General procedure for the preparation of furofurans 7aꢀd from 5, phenacyl bromides and acetic
anhydride.
To an ice-cooled and stirred solution of 5 (1.10 g, 10 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was added 60% NaH (0.40
g, 10 mmol). The stirring was continued at rt until evolution of gas ceased. To the obtained mixture was
added phenacyl bromide (1.99 g, 10 mmol), 4-chlorophenacyl bromide (2.33 g, 10 mmol),
4-methylphenacyl bromide (2.13 g, 10 mmol) or 4-methoxyphenacyl bromide (2.29 g, 10 mmol) with
stirring and then the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, acetic
anhydride (3 mL) was added to the residue. The resulting mixture was stirred at 80 °C for 3 h and then

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010
641
cold water was added to the reaction mixture. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with
water, dried and recrystallized from an appropriate solvent to give 7aꢀd.
N-(3a-Cyano-2,3,3a,6a-tetrahydro-5-phenylfuro[2,3-b]furan-6a-yl)acetamide (7a)
Colorless needles (1.50 g, 56%), mp 167ꢀ169 °C (acetone/petroleum ether); IR (KBr): 3179 (NH), 2247,
2234 (CN), 1668, 1649 (CO) cm-1; 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): 1.92 (s, 3H, COCH3), 2.44 (dd, J = 4.6, 7.9 Hz,
1H, 3-H), 2.74ꢀ2.81 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.70ꢀ3.76 (m, 1H, 2-H), 4.21 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H, 2-H), 5.79 (s, 1H,
4-H), 7.42ꢀ7.45 (m, 3H, aryl H), 7.59ꢀ7.61 (m, 2H, aryl H), 9.42 (br s, 1H, NH); 13C NMR (DMSO-d6):
ꢁ 22.7 (COCH3), 37.5 (C-3), 53.8 (C-3a), 66.5 (C-2), 95.8 (C-4), 118.7 (CN), 120.3 (C-6a), 125.3, 128.1,
128.5, 129.8 (C aryl), 155.8 (C-5), 169.3 (CO); ms: m/z 271 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C15H14N2O3: C,
66.66; H, 5.22; N, 10.36; Found: C, 66.68; H, 5.26; N, 10.35.
N-[5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3a-cyano-2,3,3a,6a-tetrahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan-6a-yl]acetamide (7b)
Colorless needles (1.72 g, 57%), mp 188ꢀ190 °C (acetone/petroleum ether); IR (KBr): 3306 (NH), 2244
(CN), 1695 (CO) cm-1; 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): ꢁ 1.92 (s, 3H, COCH3), 2.44 (dd, J = 4.6, 12.2 Hz, 1H, 3-H),
2.72ꢀ2.79 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.70ꢀ3.76 (m, 1H, 2-H), 4.22 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H, 2-H), 5.86 (s, 1H, 4-H),
13
7.49ꢀ7.52 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.60ꢀ7.63 (m, 2H, aryl H), 9.44 (br s, 1H, NH); C NMR (DMSO-d6):
ꢁ 22.7 (COCH3), 37.6 (C-3), 53.8 (C-3a), 66.5 (C-2), 96.6 (C-4), 118.5 (CN), 120.4 (C-6a), 127.0, 127.1,
128.7, 134.3 (C aryl), 154.7 (C-5), 169.3 (CO); ms: m/z 305 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C15H13ClN2O3: C,
59.12; H, 4.30; N, 9.19; Found: C, 59.38; H, 4.57; N, 8.95.
N-[3a-Cyano-2,3,3a,6a-tetrahydro-5-(4-methylphenyl)furo[2,3-b]furan-6a-yl]acetamide (7c)
Colorless needles (1.18 g, 42%), mp 204ꢀ205 °C (acetone); IR (KBr): 3179 (NH), 2246, 2232 (CN), 1668
1
(CO) cm-1; H NMR (DMSO-d6): ꢁ 1.91 (s, 3H, COCH3), 2.33 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.39ꢀ2.43 (m, 1H, 3-H),
2.75ꢀ2.81 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.69ꢀ3.74 (m, 1H, 2-H), 4.20 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H, 2-H), 5.71 (s, 1H, 4-H),
7.23ꢀ7.26 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.48ꢀ7.50 (m, 2H, aryl H), 9.40 (br s, 1H, NH); 13C NMR (DMSO-d6): ꢁ 20.8
(CH3), 22.7 (COCH3), 37.4 (C-3), 53.8 (C-3a), 66.6 (C-2), 94.9 (C-4), 118.7 (CN), 120.3 (C-6a), 125.3,
125.4, 129.1, 139.6 (C aryl), 155.9 (C-5), 169.3 (CO); ms: m/z 285 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C16H16N2O3:
C, 67.59; H, 5.67; N, 9.85; Found: C, 67.63; H, 5.71; N, 9.86.
N-[3a-Cyano-2,3,3a,6a-tetrahydro-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)furo[2,3-b]furan-6a-yl]acetamide (7d)
Colorless needles (2.10 g, 70%), mp 186ꢀ188 °C (acetone/petroleum ether); IR (KBr): 3176 (NH), 2246,
2233 (CN), 1667 (CO) cm-1; 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): ꢁ 1.91 (s, 3H, COCH3), 2.40 (dd, J = 4.6, 11.9 Hz, 1H,
3-H), 2.76ꢀ2.80 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.71ꢀ3.75 (m, 1H, 2-H), 3.79 (s, 3H, OCH3), 4.18ꢀ4.21 (m, 1H, 2-H), 5.61
13
(s, 1H, 4-H), 6.97ꢀ7.01 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.53ꢀ7.56 (m, 2H, aryl H), 9.38 (br s, 1H, NH); C NMR
(DMSO-d6): ꢁ 22.7 (COCH3), 37.5 (C-3), 53.8 (C-3a), 55.2 (OCH3), 66.6 (C-2), 93.7 (C-4), 114.0 (C aryl),
118.8 (CN), 120.2 (C aryl), 120.6 (C-6a), 127.0 (C aryl), 155.7 (C-5), 160.4 (C aryl), 169.3 (CO); ms: m/z
301 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C16H16N2O4: C, 63.99; H, 5.37; N, 9.33; Found: C, 63.98; H, 5.45; N, 9.23.

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010
General procedure for the preparation of furopyrroles 8aꢀd from 5 and phenacyl bromides in the
presence of sodium methoxide.
To an ice-cooled and stirred solution of 5 (1.10 g, 10 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was added 60% NaH (0.40
g, 10 mmol). The stirring was continued at rt until evolution of gas ceased. To the obtained mixture was
added phenacyl bromide (1.99 g, 10 mmol), 4-chlorophenacyl bromide (2.33 g, 10 mmol),
4-methylphenacyl bromide (2.13 g, 10 mmol) or 4-methoxyphenacyl bromide (2.29 g, 10 mmol) with
stirring and then the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, a solution of
sodium (0.35 g, 15 mmol) in anhydrous methanol (20 mL) was added to the residue and then the resulting
mixture was refluxed for 2 h. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, cold water was added to the residue.
The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with water, dried and purified by column
chromatography on silica gel with CH2Cl2 as the eluent to afford 8aꢀd.
3,3a,4,6a-Tetrahydro-6a-methoxy-5-phenylfuro[2,3-b]pyrrole-3a(2H)-carbonitrile (8a)
Colorless columns (0.98 g, 40%), mp 141ꢀ142 °C (acetone/petroleum ether); IR (KBr): 2238 (CN) cm-1;
1H NMR (CDCl3): ꢁ 2.09ꢀ2.15 (m, 1H, 3-H), 2.70ꢀ2.76 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.30 (d, J = 18.0 Hz, 1H, 4-H),
3.71 (d, J = 18.0 Hz, 1H, 4-H), 3.75 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.88ꢀ3.93 (m, 1H, 2-H), 4.15ꢀ4.20 (m, 1H, 2-H),
13
7.42ꢀ7.46 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.50ꢀ7.54 (m, 1H, aryl H), 7.85ꢀ7.88 (m, 2H, aryl H); C NMR (CDCl3):
ꢁ 40.1 (C-3), 46.5 (C-3a), 46.8 (C-4), 52.7 (OCH3), 66.4 (C-2), 120.1 (CN), 128.2, 128.7, 132.3 (C aryl),
132.6 (C-6a), 170.7 (C-5); ms: m/z 243 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C14H14N2O2: C, 69.41; H, 5.82; N, 11.56;
Found: C, 69.54; H, 5.87; N, 11.54.
5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3,3a,4,6a-tetrahydro-6a-methoxyfuro[2,3-b]pyrrole-3a(2H)-carbonitrile (8b)
1
Colorless columns (0.70 g, 25%), mp 99ꢀ100 °C (Et2O/petroleum ether); IR (KBr): 2236 (CN) cm-1; H
NMR (CDCl3): ꢁ 2.10ꢀ2.16 (m, 1H, 3-H), 2.71ꢀ2.76 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.26 (d, J = 18.0 Hz, 1H, 4-H), 3.68
(d, J = 18.0 Hz, 1H, 4-H), 3.74 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.90ꢀ3.94 (m, 1H, 2-H), 4.15ꢀ4.20 (m, 1H, 2-H),
7.41ꢀ7.44 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.79ꢀ7.82 (m, 2H, aryl H); 13C NMR (CDCl3): ꢁ 40.1 (C-3), 46.6 (C-3a), 46.7
(C-4), 52.7 (OCH3), 66.5 (C-2), 119.9 (CN), 129.1, 129.5, 130.7 (C aryl), 132.5 (C-6a), 138.6 (C aryl),
169.6 (C-5); ms: m/z 277 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C14H13ClN2O2: C, 60.77; H, 4.74; N, 10.12; Found: C,
60.77; H, 4.77; N, 10.11.
3,3a,4,6a-Tetrahydro-6a-methoxy-5-(4-methylphenyl)furo[2,3-b]pyrrole-3a(2H)-carbonitrile (8c)
1
Colorless prisms (0.62 g, 24%), mp 110ꢀ111 °C (Et2O); IR (KBr): 2242 (CN) cm-1; H NMR (CDCl3):
ꢁ 2.08ꢀ2.14 (m, 1H, 3-H), 2.40 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.69ꢀ2.74 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.27 (d, J = 17.9 Hz, 1H, 4-H),
3.68 (d, J = 17.9 Hz, 1H, 4-H), 3.74 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.87ꢀ3.92 (m, 1H, 2-H), 4.14ꢀ4.19 (m, 1H, 2-H),
7.23ꢀ7.25 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.74ꢀ7.76 (m, 2H, aryl H); 13C NMR (CDCl3): ꢁ 21.6 (CH3), 40.2 (C-3), 46.4
(C-3a), 46.8 (C-4), 52.7 (OCH3), 66.3 (C-2), 120.2 (CN), 128.2, 129.4, 129.6 (C aryl), 132.6 (C-6a),
142.9 (C aryl), 170.6 (C-5); ms: m/z 257 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for C15H16N2O2: C, 70.29; H, 6.29; N,

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 80, No. 1, 2010
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10.93; Found: C, 70.31; H, 6.35; N, 10.91.
3,3a,4,6a-Tetrahydro-6a-methoxy-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)furo[2,3-b]pyrrole-3a(2H)-carbonitrile (8d)
Colorless prisms (1.48 g, 54%), mp 138ꢀ139 °C (acetone/petroleum ether); IR (KBr): 2246 (CN) cm-1; 1H
NMR (CDCl3): ꢁ 2.08ꢀ2.14 (m, 1H, 3-H), 2.69ꢀ2.74 (m, 1H, 3-H), 3.26 (d, J = 17.7 Hz, 1H, 4-H), 3.67
(d, J = 17.7 Hz, 1H, 4-H), 3.73 (s, 3H, 6a-OCH3), 3.86 (s, 3H, PhOCH3), 3.86ꢀ3.91 (m, 1H, 2-H),
4.14ꢀ4.19 (m, 1H, 2-H), 6.92ꢀ6.95 (m, 2H, aryl H), 7.80ꢀ7.83 (m, 2H, aryl H); 13C NMR (CDCl3): ꢁ 40.2
(C-3), 46.4 (C-3a), 46.7 (C-4), 52.6 (6a-OCH3), 55.4 (PhOCH3), 66.3 (C-2), 114.1 (C aryl), 120.3 (CN),
124.9, 130.1 (C aryl), 132.7 (C-6a), 162.9 (C aryl), 170.0 (C-5); ms: m/z 273 [M+H]+; Anal. Calcd for
C15H16N2O3: C, 66.16; H, 5.92; N, 10.29; Found: C, 66.17; H, 5.91; N, 10.31.
The preparation of furofuran 7a from 6a and acetic anhydride.
A mixture of 6a(2.28 g, 10 mmol) and acetic anhydride (3 mL) was stirred at 80 °C for 3 h and then cold
water was added to the reaction mixture. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with water,
dried and recrystallized from an appropriate solvent to yield the furo[2,3-b]furan 7a (2.40 g, 89%). The
melting point and IR spectrum of this compound coincided with that of a sample (entry 1 in Table 1)
prepared from 5 and phenacyl bromide.
The preparation of furopyrrole 8a from 6a and sodium methoxide.
To a solution of sodium (0.35 g, 15 mmol) in anhydrous methanol (20 mL) was added 6a (2.28 g, 10
mmol) with stirring and then the mixture was refluxed for 2 h. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, cold
water was added to the residue. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with water, dried and
purified by column chromatography on silica gel with CH2Cl2 as the eluent to give the furo[2,3-b]pyrrole
8a (1.57 g, 65%). This compound was identical with a sample (entry 5 in Table 1) prepared from 5 and
phenacyl bromide on the basis of a mixed melting point determination and comparison of the IR
spectrum.
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