An efficient synthesis of 4-chromanones

A two step efficient and practical synthesis of a variety of 4-chromanones is described. Phenols undergo a Michael addition to acrylonitriles in the presence of catalytic amounts of potassium carbonate and tert-butanol to generate the corresponding 3-aryloxypropanenitriles in 50–93% yields. Treatment of the resulting aryloxypropionitriles with 1.5 equiv of TfOH and 5 equiv of TFA, followed by an aqueous work up afforded 4-chromanones in moderate to excellent yields.