Naphtho[1,2-<i>c</i>:5,6-<i>c</i>]difuran:  A Reactive Linker and Cyclophane Precursor

Abstract

Naphtho[1,2-c:5,6-c]difuran has been isolated in a 9-step synthesis from 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. It is a highly reactive diene similar in nature to the related isobenzofuran. In Diels-Alder reactions, its intermediate monoadducts are actually less reactive that the parent difuran making possible sequential Diels-Alder reactions with different dienophiles. Reaction with a tethered bis(dienophile) leads to the production of a naphthalenic cyclophane.