A procedure for the synthesis of 5-(arylsulfanyl)-2,3-dihydro-6-sulfonamido
-3-benzofuranones (1) via 5-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitrobenzofuran (4) as a comm
on advanced synthetic intermediate has been developed. The key step consist
s of a regioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the bromine ato
m of 4 by an aryl or heteroarylthiol.