Reaction between alkyl isocyanides and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of polyhydroxybenzenes. Synthesis of 4H-chromene derivatives

The reactive intermediate generated by the addition of alkyl isocyanides to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate was trapped by phenols such as resorcinol, catechol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol, 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, or 8-hydroxyquinoline to produce highly functionalized 4H-chromenes in fairly good yields.