A facile and efficient synthesis of dronedarone hydrochloride starting from commercially available 4-nitrophenol is described. This approach features a tandem-type synthesis of 3-carbonylated benzofuran involving cyclization of 2-ethynylphenol followed by $CO_2$ fixation at the 3-position of the benzofuran ring mediated by potassium carbonate without the addition of any transition metal catalyst.