Laccase from Basidiomycetous Fungus-Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted Benzopyranocoumarins via Domino Reaction.

Abstract The present investigation provides a simple and convenient route to organic synthesis of substituted benzopyranocoumarin, which is important because it is a probable HIV protease inhibitor. The reaction of α,β-unsaturated derivatives of coumarins with catechol or 1,4-hydroquinones was catalyzed using laccase in an aqueous medium. Quinones, generated in situ by the oxidation of the corresponding catechol or 1,4-hydroquinones, underwent a domino reaction with chalcones to produce benzopyranocoumarins.