Eleven (±)-5/6/7-acetoxy-4-aryl-3, 4-dihydrocoumarins have been synthesised in two steps starting from the coupling of cinnamic acid/substituted cinnamic acid with appropriate phenols, followed by acetylation in 50–83% overall yields. All hydroxy-and acetoxycoumarins were unambiguously identified on the basis of their spectral data. Candida antarctica lipase-catalysed deacetylation of these racemic ...