A simple and efficient one-pot methodology has been developed for the synthesis of biologically important multi-functionalized 3-(2′-hydroxyaryl)-2-(2′-carboxyphenyl)benzofurans using silica sulfuric acid (SSA) as a heterogeneous acid catalyst in DMF medium. The significant advantages of this methodology are the use of SSA as a recyclable solid acid catalyst, operational simplicity, easy availability of the starting materials, and good yield of the products with high atom-economy. © 2016, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.