Search for physiologically active compounds. Part XXI. Synthesis of 3-(2-furyl) and 3-(2-furyl)-4-methyl coumarins

Abstract

The synthesis of a number of 3-(2-furyl) coumarins adopting three different methods is described. The comparative merits of the methods are also discussed. The presence of a furyl moiety at the 3-posiiton of the coumarin ring has been shown to be comparatively better than a phenyl moiety in regard to the fish toxicity of the molecule. Among the coumarins tested on fish, 7-bromo-4-methyl-3-(2-furyl) coumarin has the maximum activity and is one-third as active as rotenone. The U.V., I.R. and N.M.R. spectral data of some of the compounds are also presented.