A convenient synthesis of dihydrocoumarins from phenols and cinnamic acid derivatives

Abstract

A facile procedure for synthesis of dihydrocoumarin derivatives was described. Although the yield of the products in the reaction of phenols with acrylates in trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of Pd(OAc) 2 giving coumarins was found to be very low, dihydrocoumarin derivatives were obtained in good to high yields in the absence of Pd(OAc) 2 when ethyl cinnamates bearing electron-donating groups were employed in this reaction.