Preparation of 3-substituted isocoumarins in the reactions of homophthalic anhydride and its derivatives

Acetylation of 4-nitrohomophthalic anhydride gave 4-acetyl-7-nitroisochroman-1,3-dione, which was converted to 3-methyl-7-nitroisocoumarin. 3-Benzylisocoumarin derivatives were synthesized by reaction of homophthalic anhydrides with arylacetic acids in acetic anhydride and triethylamine.Communication XXVIII from the series Condensation of Dicarboxylic Acid Anhydrides with Compounds Containing Active Methylene Groups. See [1] for communication XXVII.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1487–1489, November, 1977.