A short synthesis of 5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-propanoic acid methyl ester

5-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-propanoic acid methyl ester was prepared in five steps and approximately 20% overall yield from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. The two key reactions are the chromenylation between the unchelated hydroxyl group and C-3 of the resbenzaldehyde and the demethoxycarbonylation-alkylation of dimethyl malonate with a quaternary ammonium iodide.