An unexpected rearrangement-hydration reaction sequence of 2H-chromenes to dihydrochalcones under catalysis of HAuCl4

2-Aryl-2H-chromenes in aqueous DCM medium under catalysis of HAuCl4 are converted into 3-(2-hydroxyaryl)-1-arylpropan-1-ones through hydration-rearrangement reaction sequence in very good yield. The key step probably involves the [1,5] hydride shift followed by the hydrolysis under the reaction condition. The notable advantages of this method are operational simplicity and ease of isolation of products and also provide a pathway to convert the chalcone into DHCs with the transposition of carbonyl group.