Solid phase vs. solution phase differential behavior: formation of a salicylate structure from a malondialdehyde moiety.

Treatment of 2, solid supported synthetic equivalent of 3-formylchromone (4), and ethyl acetoacetate affords the salicylate structure 8 instead of the previously reported isophtalate 7. This is the first formation of a salicylate by a double carbonyl condensation of a malondialdehyde moiety ever reported.