Mechanochemical synthesis of coumarins via Pechmann condensation under solvent-free conditions: an easy access to coumarins and annulated pyrano[2,3-f] and [3,2-f]indoles

A green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of simple coumarins and linear pyrano[2,3-f] and [3,2-f]indoles by the reaction of phenol derivatives with β-ketoesters under ball milling at ambient temperature in the presence of methanesulfonic acid.