One-pot synthesis of 5-(furo[3,4-b]chromenyl)-5-hydroxybarbiturates via a three-component cascade reaction

A three-component domino reaction between a 3-formylchromone, an isocyanide, and 1,3-dimethylalloxan which affords novel 5-(furo[3,4-b]chromenyl)-5-hydroxybarbiturate derivatives is reported. The reaction sequence consists of an initial [4+1] cycloaddition followed by an activated electrophilic heteroaromatic substitution on the furan ring to afford the products. This novel cascade reaction sequence represents an atom-economic route to biologically interesting molecules.