Stereochemical studies of 2-hydroxychromanones by 1H NMR spectroscopy

2-Hydroxychromanones (2a–2f) were synthesized by ring closing of 2-hydroxyacetophenones (1a, b) and 2-hyroxypropiophenones (1c–1f). In the case of 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-chromanones (2c–2f) a mixture of cis and trans isomers was obtained. The trans isomers are conformalionally homogeneous, the cis isomers exist in a conformational equilibrium. At room temperature the isomers are transformed into each other via opening of the heteroring. This process becomes faster in alkaline medium and the β-diketo form 4 can also be observed.