摘要 |
PCT No. PCT/FR96/00779 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 24, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 24, 1997 PCT Filed May 24, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/37454 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 28, 1996The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehydes and derivatives thereof from phenolic compounds carrying formyl and/or hydroxymethyl groups in the 2 and 4 positions. The invention also concerns the preparation of 4-hydroxybenzaldehydes from 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehydes. More particularly, the invention concerns the preparation of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, respectively known as "vanillin" and "ethylvanillin". The process for the preparation of 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde is characterized in that the group in the 2 position in a phenolic compound carrying formyl and/or hydroxymethyl groups in the 2 and 4 positions is selectively oxidized to a carboxy group, and optionally a hydroxymethyl group in the 4 position is selectively oxidized to a formyl group. A successive decarboxylation step for a 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde produces a 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde.
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