Abstract: Coumarin 4-methyl acetates are oxidized to coumarin-4-methyl glyoxalate using SeO 2. Unlike the oxidative decaboxylation observed in the case of coumarin-4-acetic acid, here the oxidation is very selective for active methylene group, without affecting the COOH group protected with ester function. The product thus formed is analogous to the phenyl glyoxalic acid methyl ester ie coumarin 4-methyl glyoxalate and can be a useful moiety for ...