A DMAP-catalyzed cascadeapproach allowing facile assembly of alkynyl coumarins is reported. By virtue of reactive o-AQM (in situ generated from modular propargylamine) and a new synthetic equivalent of acyl carbene (from pyridinium ylide), the reaction proceeds smoothly to afford a variety of alkynyl coumarins in good-to-excellent yields. This transition-metal-free and oxidant-free process features