A Convenient and Efficient Synthesis of 2,6-Dihydroxynaphthalene

Abstract

A convenient synthesis of 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene from 6-bromo-2-naphthol has been achieved with high overall yield (52%) and good purity (95.7%) based on the conversion of 6-(methoxymethoxy)-2-naphthaldehyde to 6-(methoxymethoxy)-2-naphthol formate by a Baeyer–Villiger oxidation-rearrangement. Compared with the reported methods, the reaction conditions are milder and the work-up of each step is much simpler. Moreover, 6-bromo-2-naphthol as the starting material for the synthesis is readily available.