Palladium-catalyzed hydrodehalogenation of butenolides: An efficient and sustainable access to β-arylbutenolides

•An efficient reductive dehalogenation of α-halo-β-arylbutenolides was developed.•A protecting group free synthesis of rubrolides E and F is described.•β-Arylbutenolides were obtained by one-pot process from α,β-dihalobutenolides.•A regioselective dehalogenation of α-halo-β-arylfuran-2(5H)-ones was developed.