Rs. Mali et al., SYNTHESIS OF NATURALLY-OCCURRING (Z)-3-BENZYLIDENEPHTHALIDE AND (+ -)3-BENZYLPHTHALIDES/, Journal of chemical research. Synopses, (2), 1998, pp. 68
A convenient method, involving the generation of the phthalide anion,
is described for the synthesis of naturally occurring (Z)-3-benzyliden
ephthalide (5) and (+/-) 3-benzylphthalides (6c, 10a-c), starting from
phthalides (7a and 7b).