Isocoumarins and 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins, amazing natural products: a review

The isocoumarins are naturally occurring lactones that constitute an important class of natural products exhibiting an array of biological activities. A wide variety of these lactones have been isolated from natural sources and, due to their remarkable bioactivities and structural diversity, great attention has been focused on their synthesis. This review article focuses on their structural diversity, biological applications, and commonly used synthetic modes.