Two efficient cascade reactions to synthesize substituted furocoumarins.

We have developed two efficient one-pot reactions to generate furo[3,2-c]coumarins and chlorofuro[3,2-c]coumarins through addition/cyclization/oxidation and chlorination. One cascade addition/cyclization/oxidation sequence of 1 with H(2)O in the presence of 20% CuCl as Lewis acid under an air atmosphere generated the 2-substituted-4 H-furo[3,2-c]chromen-4-one 2. Another sequence in the presence of 10% CuBr and excess CuCl(2) as the oxidant afforded the 3-chloro-2-substituted-4 H-furo[3,2- c]chromen-4-one 3.