One-pot synthesis of 2-aryl-3-alkoxycarbonyl chromones through a cascade Lewis acid-catalyzed aldehyde olefination/oxa-Michael addition/oxidation

2-Aryl-3-alkoxycarbonyl chromones were effectively constructed from aryl aldehydes and 3-(2-(methoxymethoxy)phenyl)propiolates via a cascade Lewis acid catalyzed phenol ether deprotection/aldehyde olefination/intramolecular oxa-Michael addition reaction, and a sequential oxidation. This four-step reaction could be conducted in one-pot with high atom efficiency.