Flow synthesis of coumalic acid and its derivatization

Abstract

Coumalic acid is a valuable platform compound which can be prepared from malic acid, a biorenewable feedstock readily derived from the fermentation of glucose. Current batch procedures to synthesise coumalic acid have several drawbacks, which we address with the aid of tubular flow systems and a simple heated rotating flow reactor. The prepared coumalate derivatives can be further used in inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reactions to synthesise compounds with many applications including molecular electronics, with the added advantage of providing metal-free preparations.