A straightforward conversion of aurones to 2-benzoylbenzofurans: transformation of one class of natural products into another

The naturally occurring aurones (2-benzylidene-3(2H)-benzofuran-3-ones) can be easily converted to another class of natural products 2-benzoylbenzo[b]furans, via an effective reduction, acid-mediated rearrangement, and oxidation cascade. This easy conversion was conducted without purification of intermediates. This straightforward conversion may be considered as a possible biosynthesis pathway of 2-benzoylbenzo[b]furans in plants.