Reaction of polyhaloalkyl-substituted chromones, pyrones, and furanones with salicylaldehydes as a direct route to fused 2H-chromenes.

Polyhaloalkyl-substituted chromones, gamma-pyrones, and beta-furanones react with salicylaldehydes in the presence of piperidine to give a wide variety of fused 2H-chromenes in good yields. This novel annulation reaction presumably proceeds by a tandem intermolecular oxa-Michael addition and subsequent intramolecular Mannich condensation.