Synthesis of benzofurans through coupling of dienylacetylenes with carbene complexes: total synthesis of egonol

The reaction of various carbene complexes with dienylacetylenes has been examined. The reaction has been used as the cornerstone for the preparation of the nor-neolignan natural product egonol in five steps from readily available components. In most examples of the carbene–alkyne coupling, the reaction proceeds to form benzofuran derivatives. In the case of one highly functionalized terminal alkyne, a competing rearrangement/cyclization process occurs in preference to the carbene coupling process. The use of silylated alkynes subverts this process.