Furan ring opening–furan ring closure: cascade rearrangement of novel 4-acetoxy-9-furylnaphtho[2,3-b]furans

The cascade rearrangement of novel 4-acetoxy-9-furylnaphtho[2,3-b]furans leading to tetracyclic naphthodifurans derivatives has been developed. The reaction proceeds via double recyclization of both furan rings of the initial molecule, one of the furan rings serving as a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound equivalent.