7-Hydroxycoumarine undergoes a smooth reaction with alkyl propiolates in the presence of triphenylphosphine (15 mol%) to produce the corresponding alkyl (E)-3-((2-oxo-2H-chromen- 7-yl)oxy)acrylate in good yields. When the reaction was performed by 3-hydroxyquinoline similar alkyl acrylates were obtained.

The reaction of dibenzoylacetylene with 4-alkylaminocoumarins in THF/H2O (50:50) lead to 4-(alkylamino)-3-(1,4-dioxo-1,4-diphenylbut-2-en-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives in good yields. When the reaction carried-out in DMSO the cyclized products 2-hydroxy-1-alkyl-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromeno [4,3-b] pyrrol-4(1H)-ones were formed in good yields.