The Chemistry of Coumarin Derivatives Synthesis of 3-Alkyl-4-hydroxycoumarins by Reductive Fragmentation of 3,3'-Alkylidene-4,4'-dihydroxybis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/hlca.19910740708

Treatment of 3,3'-alkylidene-4,4'-dihydroxybis 1 with NaBH3CN in refluxing MeOH affords 3-alkyl-4-hydroxycoumarins 2 and 4-hydroxycoumarin (3; Scheme 1).The reaction may take place via hydride trapping of alkylidenechromandiones C formed from 1 in a retro-Michael reaction.Such a retro-Michael reaction of 1 might be biologically relevant.The presence of C during the reductive fragmentation 1 --> 2 is suggested by Diels-Alder and nucleophilic trapping of the alkylidenechromandiones C as well as from cross-over experiments with coumarins other than 3 (see Scheme 2).The reductive fragmentation of 1 allows the chemo- and regioselective synthesis of a variety of 3-alkyl-4-hydroxycoumarins 2 (see Table).