Structure elucidation of benzopyran-2-ol in solution and in solid state following the reduction of coumarin by DIBAL-H

Lactols are compounds of increasing interest in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical derivatives. Nevertheless, the product obtained by the reduction of the carbonyl group of coumarin has been described only twice, and without definition of its precise chemical structure. Since these studies, doubts have been raised about the existence of a monomeric or dimeric form. Our study has led us to conclude definitely that the single dimeric form exists and to precisely define the spectral properties of the two diastereoisomers.