Synthesize 2,5-diphenyl furan from ethyl benzoate and ethylacetate

Question

claisen schimdt condensation

Answer 1

Paal- Knorr:

requires 1,4-diketones:

the diphenyl-1,4-diketone [1,4-Diphenyl-1,4-butanedione] =

Ph-C=O-CH2-CH2-C=O-Ph.

prepared from the hydrodehalogenation of PhCOCHClPh, which can be made from Ethyl benzoylactetate.

Ethyl benzoylactetate can be prepared from ethyl benzoate and ethyl acetoacetate.