Vanillin (1) As Starting Material for the Synthesis of Isomeric Phthalides

Abstract
Phthalides have bcen employed as useful intcriucdiates in tic sqrnthcsis of my condcnscld aromatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds, including several natural products In this paper we report two alternative synthetic pathways for the preparation of phthalides as shown for the synthesis of the isomeric pairs of compounds 5a-d and 7a-d.