3-Coumaranone and its substituted analogues undergo Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction with Diethyl- cyanomethyl-phosphonate, in the presence of NaH, to give 3-(cyanomethyl)benzofurans, intermediates in a synthesis of antihyperglycemic agents: J. Med. Chem., 35, 1176 (1992). Condenses with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of alumina under mild conditions to give aurones, an important class of natural pigments: Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 5937 (1992).