Synthesis via pummerer intermediates. IV. Synthesis of 1-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-yl)pyridinium hydroxide inner salt derivatives and 3-(2H)benzofuranones by the action of phosgene in pyridine on 2-hydroxy-1-[(methylsulfinyl)acetyl]benzene derivatives

The treatment of ketosulfoxide 1 with phosgene in pyridine gave a mixture of 1-(4-hydroxy-8-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-yl)pyridinium hydroxide inner salt ( 4 ) and 7-methoxy-2-(methylthio)-3-(2H)benzofuranone ( 7 ). Ketosulfoxides 8 and 11 behaved similarly. The inner salt structure assigned to compounds 4, 10 , and 13 was confirmed by the unambiguous synthesis of 10 and 13 from hydroxycoumarins 15 and 18 .