A Direct and High Yielding Route to 2-(5-Tetrazolyl) Substituted Benzopyran-4-ones: Synthesis of Pranlukast.

Abstract A direct and high yielding route to 2-(5-tetrazolyl)benzopyran-4-ones 1, including pranlukast 1a is described. This involves the Claisen condensation reaction between the relevant hydroxyacetophenone 2 and the ethyl ester of tetrazole-2-carboxylic acid 5 to give the 1,3-diketone 6, which is then cyclised to give the desired benzopyran-4-ones 1.