A mild and efficient procedure to build up various chromone-2-carboxylates was developed. Condensation of diverse 2-hydroxyacetophones with tetr-butyl oxalate in the presence of sodium ethoxide could be accomplished rapidly under mild condition. Cyclodehydration was carried out to achieve chromone-2-carboxylates in one-pot with impressive yield. Advantages over conventional methods with diethyl oxalate were observed in yield and reaction time.