Hydroxymethylation of 2-Hydroxypropiophenones in Aqueous Medium: Synthesis of 3-Hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-4-chromanones and Their Conversion to 3-Methyl-4-chromanone-3-acetic Acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1985-31368

Reaction of o-hydroxypropiophenone (1a) with aqueous formaldehyde in sodium hydroxide solution led to the mono-hydroxymethylated 2a and/or the bis-hydroxymethylated derivative 3a, as well as to 3-methyl-4-chromanone (4a) and/or 3-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-