Preparation of 2-Substituted 3-Methoxycarbonyl-4-methoxyfurans that Allow Access to Highly Functionalized Naphthalenes via Regioselective Cycloaddition with Alkoxybenzyne

A facile synthetic method of 2-substituted 3-methoxycarbonyl-4-methoxyfurans has been developed, allowing construction of highly functionalized naphthalene derivatives via (1) regioselective benzyne [4+2] cycloaddition with α-alkoxybenzyne and (2) reductive aromatization.