Abstract:The reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin with salicylaldehyde was carried out in ethanol and water-ethanol mixture (2:1 v/v) using conventional and microwave assisted methods. The reactions were explored leading to the formation of a single product in contrast to the two products formed usually, viz. 3-(o-hydroxybenzal)-2,4-diketochroman and 3-[6-oxo(1)benzopyran (4,3-b)-(1) benzopyran-7-yl]-4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one. In addition to the exclusive formation of a single product, the time of reaction was reduced considerably. The products were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity and were found to exhibit good activity in comparison to the 4-hydroxycoumarin moiety.