Palladium-catalyzed domino protodecarboxylation/oxidative Heck reaction: regioselective arylation of coumarin-3-carboxylic acids

A protocol for straightforward and step-economical synthesis of neoflavones from coumarin-3-carboxylic acids is developed. This approach enables controlled protodecarboxylation/regioselective C–H arylation of coumain-3-carboxylic acids in one-pot using a monometallic catalytic system. A wide variety of electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents on both coumarins and arylboronic acid are tolerated under the reaction conditions and 4-aryl coumarins are constructed in high yields.