Methanol → 1,2-Bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-dione

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of bis(3,4-methylenedioxy)benzil (500 mg) in dry CH2Cl2 (50 ml) under nitrogen, was slowly added boron tribromide (1.6 ml) then stirring continued for a further 3.5 hours. Methanol (100 ml) was added carefully, then the solvent evaporated in vacuo to a volume of 1 ml, this addition and evaporation was repeated twice more. The product was purified by column chromatography over silica gel when elution with diethylether in dichloromethane gave 3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydroxybenzil (217 mg, 47%) as a yellow powder.

Provenance & Evidence