A highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of 3-substituted salicylic acids by either directed ortho-lithiation or halogen–metal exchange of substituted MOM protected phenols followed by carboxylation.

Abstract

A highly efficient synthesis of various 3-substituted salicylic acids is described starting from inexpensive starting materials and requiring no special apparatus.Key words: salicylic acids, ortho-metalation, halogen–metal exchange, methoxymethyl group.