Facile ionic liquid-mediated, three-component sequential reactions for the green, regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of furocoumarins

An environmentally friendly approach to the diastereoselective synthesis of trans-4-oxo-3-aryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-furo[3,2-c]coumarin-2-carbonitriles, trans-2-benzoyl-3-(aryl)-2H-furo[3,2-c]chromen-4(3H)-ones and trans-ethyl-4-oxo-3-(aryl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-furo[3,2-c]chromene-2-carboxylates in good yields is described. The method is based on the sequential multicomponent reactions of 4-hydroxycoumarin, aromatic aldehydes and in situ generated cyanomethylpyridinium, phenacylpyridinium/(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)pyridinium ylides, in the presence of the ionic liquid [BMIm]OH, which functions both as a catalyst and the reaction medium.