The hydroxyl-protected coumarin derivatives 6a-e of 4-methyl-3-(2, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7- hydroxycoumarin (4) are key intermediates in the synthesis of unsymmetrical benzopyranobenzopyran compounds, a novel series of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Free radical bromination of the 4-methyl group on 7-acetoxy-3-[(2, 4- diacetoxy) phenyl]-4-methylcoumarin (6a) with NBS resulted in incomplete reactions and ...