Assembly of 3-substituted isocoumarins via a CuI-catalyzed domino coupling/addition/deacylation process.

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of a variety of 3-substituted isocoumarins has been developed. The reaction proceeded from o-halobenzoic acids and 1,3-diketones via a copper(I)-catalyzed domino reaction in DMF under the action of K(3)PO(4) at 90-120 °C without a ligand to afford the corresponding 3-substituted isocoumarin derivatives in good to excellent yields. o-Halobenzoic acids could be o-iodobenzoic acid, o-bromobenzoic acid, and o-chlorobenzoic acid derivatives. 1,3-Diketones could be alkyl- and aryl-substituted 1,3-diketones.