Abstract An efficient and practical method for construction of 2-arylbenzo [b] furans from 2- methoxychalcone epoxides has been reported. Catalyzed by 2 mol% of BF 3· Et 2 O, 2- methoxychalcone epoxides went through the Meerwein rearrangement, followed by deformylation in one-pot to successfully afforded 2-methoxydeoxybenzoins. Afterward, 2- arylbenzo [b] furans were obtained in high yields (87%–100%) via intermolecular ...