A new protocol for the syntheses of (E)-3-benzylidenechroman-4-ones:: a simple synthesis of the methyl ether of bonducellin

Development of a simple new methodology for the synthesis of (E)-3-benzylidenechroman-4-ones using methyl 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-2-methylenepropanoates, the Baylis-Hillman adducts derived from methyl acrylate, and the application of this methodology for the synthesis of the methyl ether of bonducellin, an important natural product, and 3-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-6-methoxychroman-4-one an antifungal agent, are described.