Microwave assisted one pot synthesis of 7-substituted 2-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)acetic acids as precursors of new anti-tumour compounds

Perkin condensation with subsequent intramolecular lactonisation as one pot syntheses of 2-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)acetic acids VIIa-Xa has been studied. The required acids VIIa-Xa were prepared as precursors of recently discovered compounds possessing antineoplastic activities. Syntheses of VIIa-Xa were carried out using para substituted 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes II-VI, succinic acid anhydride, sodium succinate under thermal or microwave conditions. Significant shortening of the reaction time under microwave irradiation was observed (18–50 min instead of 1.5–5 h of heating). Microwave assisted reactions proceeded more smoothly to give higher yield of the required products VIIa-Xa (31–61 %) compared to those under classical thermal conditions e.g. 21.8 % for IXa (Hurenkamp et al., 2007). Seven reaction by-products were isolated and determined as 2H,2′H-3,3′-bichromene-2,2′-diones VIIb-Xb and (E)-3-(2-hydroxystyryl)-2H-chromen-2-ones VIIc-IXc.