A simple and environmentally friendly strategy for the synthesis of E-ortho-hydroxystilbenes has been established. Two kinds of α,β-unsaturated aromatic lactones, i.e. the 3-arylcoumarins and the isoaurones, could both readily undergo a cascade hydrolyzation/decarboxylation reaction in the presence of KOH in ethylene glycol to afford the desired E-ortho-hydroxystilbenes in moderate to high yields.