A convenient synthesis of tri- and tetramethylbenzaldehydes from readily available phenols
This letter describes a convenient synthesis of the six isomeric tri- and tetramethylbenzaldehydes, which are not readily available from major chemical suppliers. Formylation of readily available phenols via electrophilic aromatic substitution provides compounds containing the correct aromatic substitution pattern. ?Suzuki cross-coupling of the corresponding trifluoromethanesulfonates with methylboronic acid then provides the benzaldehydes as single isomers. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart. New York.