A new short synthesis of coumestrol and its application for the synthesis of [6,6a,11a-13C3]coumestrol

A convenient and simple two-step method for the synthesis of coumestrol has been established, which involves a base catalysed condensation of phenyl acetate with benzoyl chloride, followed by demethylation and subsequent tandem intramolecular cyclisation. This method was then employed for the efficient synthesis of multiply 13C-labelled coumestrol.