4, 5-Dibromofurfural (1) undergoes a regioselective Pd (0)-catalyzed C C bond forming reaction at its C-5 position to yield the corresponding furans 3. The second bromine substituent in C-4 position can be substituted by a methyl group in a subsequent Pd (0)- catalyzed cross coupling reaction. The furan fatty acid 12 and its benzyl ester 13 were prepared in a short synthetic sequence using this method.
