An Efficient Synthesis of 5,6‐Dimethoxy 1‐ and 2‐Naphthols via Teuber Reaction

Based on the oxidation of 1,5‐naphthalenediol ( 4 ) and 6‐bromo‐2‐naphthol ( 9 ) via Teuber reaction, an efficient synthesis of 5,6‐dimethoxy‐1‐naphthol ( 1 ) and 5,6‐dimethoxy‐2‐naphthol ( 2 ) was achieved with high overall yield (16% for 1 and 25% for 2 ). The key steps of the synthetic strategy involved the oxidation of naphthols ( 4 and 9 ) to the corresponding naphthoquinones ( 5 and 10 ) and the conversion of 5,6‐dimethoxy‐2‐naphthaldehyde to 5,6‐dimethoxy‐2‐naphthol formate through Baeyer‐Villiger oxidation‐rearrangement.