Novel High Yielding Syntheses of Benzodifuranone Dyes Bearing Nitrogen Substituents at the 4-Position of a Pendent Phenyl Ring

Otherwise inaccessible nitro benzodifuranone (BZDF) dyes are formed in good yield by treatment of 5-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran either with 4NO 2 -3-R-C 6 H 3 CBrClCO 2 CH 3 (R = H, alkyl, aryl or CO 2 CH 3 ) in acetic acid. High yielding reduction of the nitro to the amino BZDF is accomplished by catalytic hydrogenation over Pd or by NaBH 4 / SnCl 2 .