Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Several 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins and phthalides were synthesized by an effective Heck-Matsuda reaction involving an ortho carboxybenzenediazonium salt with a series of styrenes bearing electron donating and electron withdrawing groups, methylvinyl ketone, and methyl acrylate. The reaction was carried out in an open-flask with 1% mol of palladium acetate in aqueous ethanol at similar to 80 degrees C, giving the correspondent 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins and phthalides with good overall yields. The electronic nature of the group attached to the olefin is a key feature for the regioselectivity of the cyclization step. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.524863426345Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)