A Rapid Synthesis of Substituted 4-Hydroxymethyl-3-Chromene from 2′-Hydroxyacetophenone and Phenyl Vinyl Sulfoxide

Abstract

A two-step synthesis of 6-alkyl-4-hydroxymethyl-3-chromene (6-alkyl-4-hydroxymethyl-2H-1-benzopyran) from addition of phenyl vinyl sulfoxide carbanion to 5′-alkyl-2′-hydroxyacetophenone is described. Application to the synthesis of 4-methyl-3-chromene (4-methyl-2H-1-benzopyran) and 4,4-dimethylchroman (3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran) is also presented.