Regioselective synthesis of 3-aryl-5-(1H-indole-3-carbonyl)-4-hydroxyfuroic acids as potential insulin receptor activators

3-Methoxy-4-aryl-furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (8) is selectively converted into its C-5 methylester (6) by treatment with methyl chloroformate followed by decarboxylation in one flask. Acylation of the resulting half ester with a 7-substituted indole was performed under mild conditions to afford 3-aryl-5-(1H-indole-3-carbonyl)-4-methoxy-2-furoic acid (11). The synthetic utility of the resulting furoic acids as a skeleton in the synthesis of potential insulin receptor activators is established.