Convenient Synthesis of 3-Methylcoumarins and Coumarin-3-carbaldehydes

Rapid, microwave-assisted Baylis–Hillman reactions of substituted salicylaldehydes, followed by one-pot hydrogen iodide–mediated cyclization and reduction of the corresponding adducts, has afforded 3-methylcoumarins in up to 94% yield in the final step. Subsequent microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation of selected 3-methylcoumarins has provided convenient access to the corresponding coumarin-3-carbaldehydes and permitted a significant improvement over the yield obtained using conventional heating.