Copper-catalyzed annulation of heteroaromatic β-halo-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with alkynes for the synthesis of indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones and thieno[2,3-c]pyrane-7-ones.

The annulation of heteroaromatic β-halo-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with alkynes proceeds efficiently in the presence of Cu(OAc)2·H2O as a catalyst to afford the corresponding indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones and thieno[2,3-c]pyrane-7-ones in moderate to good yields. This strategy offers a simple and efficient route for the synthesis of indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones and thieno[2,3-c]pyrane-7-ones with good tolerance to a variety of functional groups from easily available heteroaromatic β-halo-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids.