Abstract
Various cis- and trans-3-aryl-3, 4-dihydro-8-(hydroxy or methoxy) isocoumarin-4-carboxylic acids (3-16) and their methyl esters (21-29) were prepared. In addition, cis- and trans-3, 4-dihydro-8-(hydroxy or methoxy)-4-hydroxyacetyl-3-phenylisocoumarins (33 or 32, and 35 or 34), cis- and trans-4-diazoacetyl-3, 4-dihydro-8-methoxy-3-phenylisocoumarins (30 and 31), trans-4-acetoxyacetyl-3, 4-dihydro-8-methoxy-3-phenylisocoumarin (36), and trans-4-acetyl-3, 4-dihydro-8-(hydroxy or methoxy)-3-phenylisocoumarins (38 or 37) were prepared. All the 3, 4-dihydroisocoumarins thus prepared were examined in vitro for antifungal activity. The introduction of a carboxyl, carbomethoxy, acetyl, diazoacetyl or hydroxyacetyl group at the 4-position of the 3, 4-dihydroisocoumarin nucleus resulted in the disappearance of the activity.
