5-Ethyl-1,3-benzenediol

5-Ethyl-1,3-benzenediol is a useful compound that is utilized in polycarbonate-?polyester blends. As well, it is a useful reactant for the synthesis of organic compounds such as resorcinol-?formaldehyde, and dihydroxyphthalic acids.

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanone (2.5 g, 16.4 mmol) in MeOH (120 mL) and 2N HCl (120 ml) was added Pd/C (250 mg) under an inert atmosphere. The reaction mixture was then charged with hydrogen gas and stirred at RT for 16 h under an N2 atmosphere. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated, and the residue was taken up into EtOAc (50 ml), washed with brine (2*50 ml), dried over Na2SO4, and filtered and concentrated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (0:100 to 40:60 EtOAc/hexanes) to give 5-ethylbenzene-1,3-diol as a yellow liquid.