Microwave-Assisted Efficient Synthesis of 2-Hydroxydeoxybenzoins from the Alkali Degradation of Readily Prepared 3-Aryl-4-hydroxycoumarins in Water.

An efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-hydroxydeoxybenzoins of type (III) is described, which are formed from the alkali degradation of 3-aryl-4-hydroxycoumarins (II) in water.