A mild approach to diarylfuranones via functionalized 2-arylfurans

5,5- and 3,5-Diarylfuranones have been obtained in a three-step one-pot manner. The procedure starts from photooxygenation of easily accessible arylfurans followed by in situ base treatment and finally by triflic anhydride mediated acylation of activated aromatic substrates. The regioselectivity of the acylation reaction depends on the reaction conditions and/or activation of both acid and aromatic reagents. The 5,5-diarylfuranone products have the same carbon skeleton as some rearranged tetrahydrofuran lignans.