Process for preparing 3-hydroxymethyl chromen-4-ones

摘要

3-(Hydroxymethyl)chromen-4-ones of formula (I) are described and a process for preparing said compounds. The process consists in reacting the compounds of general formula (II) wherein R is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkoxy having 1 to 4 carbon atoms optionally substituted by phenyl or halogen, with formaldehyde and a basic catalyst followed by dehydration in an acid medium to form 3-(hydroxymethyl)chromen-4-ones of general formula (I), wherein R is as defined for (II);