Furo[3,2-b]pyridine: a convenient unit for the synthesis of polyheterocycles

An efficient and rapid synthesis of furo[3,2-b]pyridine 1 is described using a one-pot Sonogashira coupling/heteroannulation sequence. Regioselective lithiation of this synthon was performed leading to various 2-substituted furo[3,2-b]pyridines. Some of them were used as substrates for short functional synthesis of polyheterocycles.