The synthesis of 2-hydroxymethyl derivatives of phenols

…, JHP Tyman, SK Mehet, A Ninagawa

Index: Payne, Peter; Tyman, John H. P.; Mehet, Satinder K.; Ninagawa, Akira Journal of Chemical Research, 2006 , # 6 p. 402 - 405

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Citation Number: 11

Abstract

2-Hydroxymethylphenols have been prepared in good yield by reduction with sodium borohydride of the precursor aldehydes, obtained regiospecifically from reaction of phenols with paraformaldehyde in toluene containing stannic chloride and tri-n-butylamine. By contrast, reaction of phenols with either paraformaldehyde under anhydrous conditions or with aqueous formaldehyde results in formation of both the hydroxymethyl and the ...