One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐Substituted 3,4‐Dihydro‐3‐methoxyisocoumarins via Carboxylation of α‐Substituted 2‐Lithio‐β‐methoxystyrenes with Carbon Dioxide

A new type of isocoumarins (=1H‐isochromen‐1‐ones=1H‐2‐benzopyran‐1‐ones), 4‐substituted 3,4‐dihydro‐3‐methoxyisocoumarins 2 , can be obtained by a one‐pot process from α‐substituted 2‐bromo‐β‐methoxystyrenes 1 . Thus, lithium 2‐(1‐aryl(or methyl)‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzoates are conveniently generated via the Br/Li exchange between 1 and BuLi, followed by the action of CO₂ on the resulting α‐substituted 2‐lithio‐β‐methoxystyrenes. Upon treating with concentrated HCl at room temperature, these lithium benzoates undergo lactonization to provide the desired 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarins 2 in relatively good yields.