A new course of the Perkin cyclization of 2-(2-formyl-6-methoxyphenoxy)alkanoic acids. Synthesis of 2-alkyl-7-methoxy-5-nitrobenzo[b]furans

2-Alkyl-7-methoxy-5-nitrobenzo[b]furan, 2-alkyl-9-methoxy-7-nitro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-5H-benzo[e][1,4]-dioxepin-5-yl acetate and 2-alkyl-5-hydroxy-9-methoxy-7-nitro-5H-benzo[e][1,4]-dioxepin-3-one were formed as a result of the cyclization of 2-(2-formyl-6-methoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)alkanoic acids under classical Perkin reaction conditions. The products were characterized by spectroscopic methods and the mechanism of the cyclization is discussed.