title: Reactions of 3-(1-Hydroxyalkyl)phthalides with Acids: Synthesis of (Z)-3-Alkylidenephthalides and 3-Alkyl-8-hydroxyisocoumarins.
abstract: A new acid-catalyzed method for the synthesis of (Z)-3-butylidenephthalides 5 and a novel and general route to 3-alkyl-8-hydroxy/methoxyisocoumarins 6-8 from phthalides 9 is described. The hydroxyphthalides 4 and 10 were obtained by condensation of the phthalide anion with butyraldehyde and acetaldehyde. Reaction of hydroxyphthalides 4 with a mixture of orthophosphoric acid and formic acid gave the (Z)-3-butylidenephthalides 5, while the hydroxyphthalides 4 and 10 on reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid provided the 3-alkylisocoumarins 6-8. The present approaches permit variation of the 3-substituent in isocoumarin and the pattern of functionalization on the aromatic rings of both isocoumarins and alkylidenephthalides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Garware Research Centre, University of Pune, Pune 411 007, India.
authors.forename: Raghao S.
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: Kantipudi N.
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Babu