Synthesis of E- and Z-o-methoxy-substituted 2,3-diphenyl propenoic acids and its methyl esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/00397910008087187

A series of stereoisomeric o-methoxy-substituted 2,3-diphenyl propenoic acids and their methyl esters have been synthesized. The E isomers were prepared by a modified Perkin condensation (substituted benzaldehyde, phenylacetic acid, Et₃N/acetic anhydride). The difficult to access Z isomers were obtained conveniently in good yields when the appropriate coumarin derivatives were allowed to react with KOH and CH₃I in DMSO.