A new type of abnormal reimer-tiemann reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)82364-4

The treatment of l, 2, 3, 4, 4a, 9b-hexahydro-3, 8-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-9b-(2'-methoxyethyl)dibenzofuran with chloroform and aqueous potassium hydroxide under conventional Reimer-Tiemann reaction conditions resulted in the replacement of the 7-methoxyl group by a carbaldehyde one. A choice between alternative pathways for this novel displacement has been facilitated by examination of the behaviour of the corresponding 7-trideuteromethoxy compound. Dichlorocarbene attack at position 7 rather than at the unsubstituted position 9 is shown to be due to steric encumbrance at the latter site.