反应详情

This object is achieved by a process for the preparation of 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid and 3-acetoxy-2-methylbenzoic acid, which comprises reacting 3-chloro-2-methylphenol (3) ##STR3## with benzyl chloride to give 2-benzyloxy-6-chlorotoluene (4) ##STR4## subjecting this to a Grignard reaction with magnesium to give (3-benzyloxy-2-methylphenyl)magnesium chloride (5) ##STR5## reacting this with CO2 to give 3-benzyloxy-2-methylbenzoic acid (6) ##STR6## hydrogenating this or its alkali metal salts in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to give 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid (2) and optionally acetylating this to give 3-acetoxy-2-methylbenzoic acid.