The Reimer-Tiemann Reaction in Slightly Hydrated Solid-liquid Medium: A New Method for the Synthesis of Formyl and Diformyl Phenols

Abstract Formylation of phenol in weakly hydrated heterogeneous solid-liquid medium makes it possible to transform phenol into salicyl-aldehyde and parahydroxybenzaldehyde with a ratio of 4.5/1 with excellent yield. Use of methanol as cosolvent modifies the orientation of this reaction, which leads for the first time to simultaneous synthesis of salicyladehyde and parahydroxybenzaldehyde, of 2-hydroxy 1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde, and of 2-hydroxy 1,3-benzenedicarbox-aldehyde. Experimental conditions make it possible to easily extract each of these molecules.