Cathodic reduction of hydroxycarbonyl compound trichloroacetyl esters

New coumarins and new 2-(2′,2′-dichlorovinyl) phenols have been prepared by cathodic reduction under potentiostatic conditions of trichloroacetyl esters of o-hydroxyketones and o-hydroxyaldehydes in aprotic media. Electroreductions of trichloroacetyl esters of α-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone, methyl salicylate and benzoin have also been investigated.