A facile synthesis of benzo(b)furan derivatives including naturally occurring neolignans via regioselective lithiation of ortho-cresols using the bis(dimethylamino)phosphoryl group as a directing group.
The iridium(III)/copper(II)‐catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of salicylaldehydes with internal alkynes proceeds efficiently under atmospheric oxygen through aldehyde C−H bond cleavage and decarbonylation. A variety of benzofuran derivatives can be synthesized by the environmentally benign procedure. DFT calculations suggest that this unique transformation involves the facile deinsertion of CO in