Rapid synthesis of kahweofuran and its derivatives, the coffee aroma components

Kahweofuran, as an impact flavor component of roasted coffee and possesses the 6-methyl-2,3-dihydrothieno[2,3-c]furan structure, was rapidly synthesized from 2-acetyl-3-hydroxymethylthiophene by the formal reductive cyclization using the Wilkinson’s catalyst. Similarly, the syntheses of the 4-methyl, 6-ethyl and 4,6-dimethyl derivatives were also achieved in favorable yields.