Bismuth(III) nitrate pentahydrate—a mild and inexpensive reagent for synthesis of coumarins under mild conditions

Bismuth(III) nitrate pentahydrate is found to be an efficient catalyst for the Pechmann condensation reaction of phenols and β-ketoesters under solvent-free conditions. The reaction protocol is simple and is followed by aqueous work-up leading to the formation of the corresponding coumarin derivatives in good yield and high purity.