Coniferyl p-coumarate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamyl 4-hydroxycinnamate)
and sinapyl p-coumarate (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamyl 4-hydroxycin
namate) were synthesized in high overall yield. In this improved metho
d acetate was used as the phenol protecting group instead of 2,4-dinit
rophenyl ether; selective deacetylation, without cinnamate ester hydro
lysis, was accomplished with neat pyrrolidine.