ChemInform Abstract: Copper-Catalyzed Preparation of 2-Aryl-3-cyanobenzofurans with Bright Blue Photoluminescence

Copper-catalyzed cascade synthesis of 2-aryl-3-cyanobenzofurans from o-hydroxybenzaldehydes and arylacetonitriles in the presence of copper acetate and sodium methoxide is reported. The synthesized 2-aryl-3-cyanobenzofurans emit bright blue under UV light with a quantum yield up to 88.9%.