(E)-o-Hydroxycinnamates were synthesized and their photochemical behavior was investigated in liquid and solid states. It was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy that the (E)- o-hydroxycinnamates converted into the corresponding coumarins via (Z)-o- hydroxycinnamate intermediates. The photoconversion was greatly accelerated in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The optical properties of the cinnamates were ...