Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclocarbonylation of 2-vinylphenols constitutes a simple, direct method for the synthesis of coumarins. The reaction conditions, employing low pressures of CO, and air or 1, 4-benzoquinone as the oxidant, are attractive in terms of environmental considerations and operational simplicity. Coumarins with a variety of functional groups were prepared in yields up to 85%.
