Direct Catalytic Benzylation of Hydroxycoumarin - Efficient Synthesis of Warfarin Derivatives and Analogues

Effective metal-catalyzed benzylations of 4-hydroxycoumarin have been developed. Employing a low amount of a cheap, nontoxic, and air-stable catalyst the 3-alkylated hydroxycoumarins were isolated in high yields after short reaction times. Applying this new methodology two widely used anticoagulants phenprocoumon and coumatetralyl were synthesized applying mild reaction conditions.