Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structures of 4,6-Dimethoxy-2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic Acid and 2,4-Dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic Acid

A synthetic route involving 4,6-dimethoxy-2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid (10) and 2,4-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid (11) has been investigated in the process of synthesis of the natural lichen substance namely, crocynol. Crystal structures of 10 and 11 were determined to confirm the ambiguous structures of the two isomers. Crystals 10 are monoclinic, sp. gr. P2₁/m, Z = 2. Crystals 11 are monoclinic, sp. gr. P2₁/c, Z = 4. In the crystal packing of 10, the molecules are arranged into chains along the a-axis formed only by van der Waals interactions, whereas in 11, the molecules are linked by O–H···O and C–H···O hydrogen bonds into chains along the b-axis and further stacked by π···π interactions with the centroid ···centroid distance of 3.6863(8) Å.