2-Acetylnaphthalene → 2-Naphthoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-Acetylnaphthalene is prepared by treating 2-(1-bromoethyl)naphthalene, prepared as described above, with sodium acetate in acetic acid to afford 2-(1-acetoxyethyl)naphthalene which upon base hydrolysis furnishes the 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphthalene. The latter is oxidized with an equivalent of chromium trioxide in glacial acetic acid, or 8N sulfuric acid and acetone to furnish 2-acetylnaphthalene. 2-Carboxynaphthalene is prepared from 2-acetylnaphthalene by treating the latter with aqueous sodium hypochlorite. The 2-carboxynaphthalene is treated with diborane in an ether, such as diglyme (diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether), to yield 2-hydroxymethylnaphthalene.

Provenance & Evidence