P4O10/TfOH-mediated metal-free synthesis of 4-hydroxycoumarins and a one-pot strategy to build their hybrids

4-Hydroxycoumarins are among the most versatile heterocyclic scaffolds, and they are extensively used in the synthesis of a wide range of chemical molecules. Because of their biological and pharmacological effects, 4-hydroxycoumarin-based compounds are important among heterocyclic structures. In this study, a new method is developed to synthesize 4-hydroxycoumarins using a phosphoric anhydride and trifluromethanesulfonic acid (P₄O₁₀/TfOH) reagent system without the employment of either a catalyst or solvent. The direct condensation of phenols with malonic acid at ambient conditions provided 4-hydroxycoumrins in 85–90% yield. In medicinal chemistry, the 4-hydroxycoumarin motif is often used to make new hybrid heterocyclic scaffolds that can be used to find new molecules. The method was then successfully extended to synthesize hybrids of 4-hydroxycoumarin, such as biscoumarylphenylmethane, dioxinocoumarin, and tetracoumarylpehylenebismethane, in a one-pot method from phenol, avoiding the intermediate step of isolating and purifying 4-hydroxycoumarin.