Formaldehyde → 2-Hydroxy-3,4,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2,3,5-trimethylphenol (11.2 g, 82.0 mmoles) in 400 mL of acetonitrile was added paraformaldehyde (17.2 g, 574 mmoles), anhydrous MgCl2 (11.7 g, 123 mmoles), and TEA (43 mL 31 g, 308 mmoles). The mixture was refluxed for 6 h with stirring. After cooling, the mixture was partially concentrated, water added, and the mixture acidified with dilute aqueous HCl. The mixture was extracted with three times with Et2O, the combined organic extracts washed with brine, dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated. Chromatography of the residue over silica gel using DCM as eluent gave 6-hydroxy-2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde, 8.8 g, as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence