Scheme 3. Synthesis of 4-aryloxy 3-iodo isocoumarins. ^aReaction conditions: a mixture of 1 and mCPBA (2 equiv.) in toluene was heated at 50 °C for 5 h in a sealed tube. Then, 2 was added and the reaction mixture was heated at 120 °C for 12 h. ^bIsolated yield.