The reaction of o-acyloxybenzylidenetriphenylphosphoranes with substituted benzoyl chlorides in an aprotic solvent led, together with the expected 2-phenylbenzofuran, to isomeric 3-benzoyl-2-phenylbenzofuran derivatives. This result formally corresponds to intramolecular migration of the benzoyl group from the ortho oxygen atom to the ylide carbanion via cyclization and ring opening of the starting o-acyloxybenzylidenetriphenylphosphoranes.
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