Sodium Hydroxide → 3,4-Dihydro-6-(phenylmethoxy)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid

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Reaction Steps

Methyl ester of 6-benzyloxy-1-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthoic acid (0.6 g) is dissolved in methanol (50 ml). To the solution is added an aqueous solution (10 ml) of sodium hydroxide (2 g), and the mixture is left standing for 30 minutes at room temperature. The resultant is concentrated under reduced pressure. The concentrate is diluted with water (50 ml). The precipitating crystals are collected by filtration. This product is dissolved in a mixture of dioxane (50 ml) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (2 ml). The mixture is left standing for 5 minutes at 80° C. and then for 30 minutes at room temperature. The resultant is concentrated under reduced pressure. Water (50 ml) is added to the concentrate. The precipitating crystals are collected by filtration to give 7-benzyloxy-1,2-dihydro-3-naphthoic acid (0.45 g) as colorless crystals, followed by recrystallization from a mixture of methanol and acetone to afford colorless needles, m.p. 202°-205° C.

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