| Abstract: | The synthesis of 2-methyl-3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-ones 4 is described starting from 2-acetoxybenzoyl chlorides and 1,2-dimethylimidazole. Chromones 4 undergo alkaline ring opening to the corresponding 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)ethenols 5 which give ring closure to 2-substituted 3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-ones or 2,3-dihydro-3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-ones. The corresponding chromanols and chromenes can be easily obtained from chromones 4 . |
