Boron Trifluoride Etherate-Controlled Reactions of Methyl Enol Ethers: Selective Synthesis of Dihydrofuro[3,2- c ]chromenone and Furo[3,2- c ]chromenone Derivatives.

A facile one-step synthetic approach to dihydrofuro-[3,2- c ]chromenones and furo[3,2- c ]chromenones by the reaction of methyl enol ethers with 4-hydroxycoumarins under metal-free conditions is presented. Dihydrofuro[3,2- c ]chromenones and furo[3,2- c ]-chromenones were selectively obtained by controlling the stoichiometry of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate. An unexpected aryl-group migration followed by aromatization of the furan moiety, leading to a variety of furo[3,2- c ]chromenone derivatives in good yields, is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]