First synthesis of furo[3,4-c]coumarins

Various 1,3-dimethyl and 1-methyl-3-phenylfuro[3,4-c]coumarins (5a-h and 6a-h) have been synthesized by demethylation cyclization of the respective 3-aryl-4-ethoxycarbonyl furans (3a-h and 4a-h). These ethoxycarbonyl furans were prepared by reacting appropriate 1-aryl-2-nitro-prop-1-ene (1a-h) with ethyl acetoacetate or ethyl benzoylacetate under Nef reaction condition.