A direct synthesis of 2-arylpropenoic acid esters having nitro groups in the aromatic ring: a short synthesis of (±)-coerulescine and (±)-horsfiline

A short synthesis of 2-arylpropenoic acid esters that possess nitro groups in their phenyl ring using common and less expensive reagents is described. The usefulness of this methodology is substantiated by the efficient total syntheses of (±)-coerulescine and (±)-horsfiline from the 2-arylpropenoic acid esters obtained.