A convenient synthesis of 2-chromonecarboxylic acids

Knoevenagel condensation of the β-ketosulfinyl intermediate II with butyl glyoxylate afforded the butyl 2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methylsulfinyl-4-oxobutyrates (III). Compounds III are versatile intermediates for the synthesis of either 2-chromonecarboxylates (V) or 2-carboxy-methylene-3-coumaranone esters (VII).