A new protocol for total synthesis of natural product frutinone A was accomplished in three steps by using inexpensive 2′-hydroxyacetophenone as starting material. The key intermediate 3-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-4-hydroxycoumarin was synthesized in one pot through Baker–Venkataraman rearrangement of 2-acetylphenyl 2-chlorobenzoate followed by introduction of methyl chloroformate under basic conditions. Then