T. Harayama et al., A CONVENIENT SYNTHESIS OF A SIMPLE COUMARIN FROM SALICYLALDEHYDE AND WITTIG REAGENT .1. A SYNTHESIS OF METHOXYCOUMARIN AND HYDROXYCOUMARIN, Heterocycles, 39(2), 1994, pp. 613-622
Reaction of methoxy- and hydroxysalicylaldehydes (1) with phosphorane
in diethylaniline under reflux gave only coumarins (3) in high yields
except for 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde (1b). It was clarified that methox
y group(s) at C-4 and C-6 on 1 facilitated the formation of 3.