Furo[3,2- c ]coumarins carrying carbon substituents at C-2 and/or C-3. Isolation, biological activity, synthesis and reaction mechanisms.

The isolation, biological activity and synthesis of natural furo[3,2- c ]coumarins are presented, covering mainly the developments in the last 35 years. The most relevant approaches toward the synthesis of 2-substituted, 3-substituted and 2,3-disubstituted heterocycles are also discussed, with emphasis on the efficiency of the processes and their mechanisms.