Novel Route to 2-Trifluoromethylated Benzofurans

A novel route for the synthesis of a variety of 2-trifluoromethylbenzofurans is reported. By selection of solvents, the key intermediates, 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropenyl phenyl acetates, were cyclized either to give 2-trifluoromethyl-substituted benzofurans or to yield trifluoromethyl modified o-alkynylphenols. The latter intermediates could also be cyclized to give 3-iodo-2-trifluoromethyl-substituted benzofurans.