Facile Microwave-Mediated Transformations of 2-Butene-1,4-diones and 2-Butyne-1,4-diones to Furan Derivatives

Several di- and triarylfuran derivatives were prepared in high yields from but-2-ene-1,4-diones/but-2-yne-1,4-diones using formic acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium on carbon and in poly(ethylene glycol)-200 medium in a one-pot operation under microwave irradiation (1-5 min).