The electrochemicalreduction on Hg cathode of a dropping solution of phenacyl bromides in dry acetone-LiClO4 yields 4-aryl-2-methylfurans and acetophenones. In this process the acetone plays a dual role, as solvent and reagent.
A three-step, single purification procedure has been developed for the concise synthesis of substituted furans from arylacyl bromides. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.