Research Projects

2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran motif as a structural core is present in several biologically active natural compounds and pharmaceuticals. Specially, 3,3- disubstituted 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans are potentially selective cannabinoid receptor 2 agonists and synthetic retinoids. These are also important building blocks for the synthesis of many complex molecules, such as DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitors or nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) inhibitors used as antivirals in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCVNS5B inhibitors). The 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (2,3-DHB) skeleton in which both the C2 and C3 positions are substituted is present in a large number of natural products, such as (+)-lithospermic acid ,(-)-linderol A, (+)-conocarpan , heliannuol G etc. Keeping in mind these usages of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran motif in several biological activities we have thought to develop a new methodology to incorporate the above core motif in new molecules. Moreover both economically and environmentally health hazards need to be considered during the synthesis of the above motif.