Potassium Hydroxide → 2-(Benzyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzoic acid

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Reaction Steps

Methyl 5-{[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]oxy}-2-[(phenylmethyl)oxy]benzoate (may be prepared as described in Description 37; 2.5 g, 6.06 mmol) was boiled with potassium hydroxide (2.38 g, 42.4 mmol) in a mixture of ethanol (60 ml) and water (15 ml) for 4 h. After the ethanol had been evaporated, the aqueous solution was washed with ethyl acetate (20 ml) and acidified with concentrated HCl. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×30 ml). The organic phase was washed with saturated brine (25 ml), dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated in vacuo to yield the title compound as a yellow oil. 1.35 g.

Provenance & Evidence