A convenient one-pot process for preparing various esters of caffeic acid from 3, 4- dihydroxybenzaldehyde has been developed. The alcohols or phenols react with Meldrum's acid to form malonic acid mono-esters, which, without separating, immediately react with 3, 4- dihydroxybenzaldehyde to afford the desired esters in good yield. The 1H NMR data and X- ray diffraction analyses indicate that these α, β-unsaturated esters are in trans (E) form in ...
