Process for preparing 1, 2-benzenedimethanol compound

A process for preparing a compound represented by Formula [2]:

• the process comprising:
• a step of reacting a compound represented by Formula [3] with a metal acetate salt:
• wherein, X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, nitro, a halogen atom or —OS(O)2R1;
• at least one of X1, X2, X3 and X4 is —OS(O)2R1,
• and R1 is C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 haloalkyl or C3-C6 cycloalkyl;
• and L1 and L2 are each independently a halogen atom.

A process for preparing a compound represented by Formula [3]:

• wherein L1 and L2 are each independently a halogen atom,
• the process comprising:
• a step of halogenating a compound represented by Formula [4]:
• wherein, X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, nitro, a halogen atom or —OS(O)2R1,
• at least one of X1, X2, X3 and X4 is —OS(O)2R1, and
• R1 is C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 haloalkyl or C3-C6 cycloalkyl.

A compound represented by Formula [2] or a salt thereof:

• wherein, X1 is —OS(O)R1,
• X2, X3 and X4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, nitro, a halogen atom or —OS(O)2R1;
• and
• R1 is a C1-C8 alkyl, a C1-C8 haloalkyl or a C3-C6 cycloalkyl.

A compound represented by Formula [3] or a salt thereof:

• wherein, X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl, a C1-C4 alkoxy, a C1-C4 haloalkoxy, nitro, a halogen atom or —OS(O)2R1;
• at least one of X1, X2, X3 and X4 is —OS(O)2R1;
• R1 is C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 haloalkyl or C3-C6 cycloalkyl;
• and
• L1 and L2 are each independently a halogen atom.