Catechol → 2-(Difluoromethoxy)phenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

275 g of chlorodifluoromethane are passed into a solution of 100 g of pyrocatechol, 220 g of sodium hydroxide and 60 g of sodium dithionite in 500 ml of water and 400 ml of dioxane at 50°-55° C. analogously to L. N. Sedova et al., Zh. Org. Khim. 6, 568 (1970). After distillation at 61°-62° C./1.0-1.1 kPa, a mixture of 1,2-bis(difluoromethoxy)benzene and 2-difluoromethoxyphenol is obtained, the products being separated by chromatography on silica gel by means of cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (4:1).

Provenance & Evidence