Synthesis of 2-hydroxyarylaldehydes

Abstract

A method for the preparation of 2-hydroxyarylaldehydes from an aryloxy magnesium compound and formaldehyde, which comprises reacting at a temperature from 40.degree.-120.degree. C., an aryloxy magnesium compound having an aryloxy anion and a non-aryloxy anion and in which (a) the non-aryloxy anion is more basic than the aryloxy anion such that when the aryloxy magnesium compound is brought into contact with an acidic species, the acid reacts more preferentially with the non-aryloxy anion to form an aryloxy magnesium salt and (b) the aryloxy anion has at least one free position ortho to the hydroxyl group in the aryloxy anion, with formaldehyde or a compound capable of giving rise to formaldehyde under the reaction conditions in the presence of a polar co-solvent capable of providing the non-aryloxy anion in the aryloxy magnesium compound characterized in that the non-aryloxy anion is selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide, a carboxylate, a sulphate and a nitrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.