Facile iron(III) chloride hexahydrate catalyzed synthesis of coumarins

Abstract

A practical and inexpensive synthesis of coumarins, from phenols and β-keto esters, via the Pechmann reaction catalyzed by 10 mol% of FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O is described. The reaction was applied to transform phenols and β-keto esters into the corresponding coumarins in moderate to excellent yields.