A green and convenient synthesis of 2-aroylbenzofurans in aqueous media

AbstractA green and convenient synthesis of some 2-aroylbenzofurans has been developed via the Rap-Stoermer type reaction between o-hydroxyacetophenones and α-bromoketones in water using tetra-n-butylammoniumbromide as a phase transfer catalyst. This protocol promises the advantages of environmentally benign conditions i.e. use of water as reaction media, short reaction time, high yield and operational convenience. The products were obtained in appreciable high yields and their structures have been arrived at by the spectroscopic (FTIR, NMR and Mass) studies. The tentative mechanism of the reaction cascade has been presented