Microwave-assisted synthesis of 3-substituted coumarins using ZrOCl2.8H2O as an effective catalyst

Abstract

Abstract An efficient route for the synthesis of 3-substituted coumarins via Knoevenagel condensation using ZrOCl2.8H2O (10 mol %) as the catalyst under microwave heating and solvent-free conditions is described. This procedure offers several advantages including low loading of catalyst, high yields, clean reaction, short reaction time and use of various substrates, which make it a useful and attractive strategy for the synthesis of 3-substituted coumarins.