Direct access to benzo[b]furans through palladium-catalyzed oxidative annulation of phenols and unactivated internal alkynes.

2,3-Disubstituted benzo[b]furans are prepared in one step from commercially available phenols and readily accessible unactivated internal alkynes (see scheme). This Pd-catalyzed oxidative annulation has a broad substrate scope and allows access to a wide range of benzo[b]furans.