2,5,7-Trisubstituted benzo[b]furans through a copper- and/or palladium-catalyzed assembly and functionalization process

A straightforward approach to the synthesis of 2,5,7-trisubstituted benzo[b]furans from 2-bromo- and 2-chloro-6-iodo-4-substituted phenols through a consecutive copper- and/or palladium-catalyzed assembly and functionalization process is described. Functionalization at the C(7) position is carried out by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling and C–N bond forming reactions.