Dipyridine cobalt chloride: a novel catalyst for the synthesis of coumarins via Pechmann condensation

Dipyridine cobalt chloride is a novel catalyst for the Pechmann condensation involving different phenols and ethylacetoacetate under solvent-free conditions using both conventional methods and microwave irradiation. It gives the corresponding coumarins in excellent yields with high purity. The catalyst is thermally stable, inexpensive and recyclable. A faster reaction and higher yields compared to the conventional method and no side products were identified using microwave irradiation. In this reaction, electron releasing groups on the phenol ring shown more reactivity and gave high yields than simple phenol. These products were identified by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, MS, IR and elemental analysis.