Benzene, Ethanol, And The New Synthetic Route Dihydroxyphenylethanol Attempt

Various synthetic methods of p-p-hydroxybenzeneethanol have been simply reviewed. Based on a evaluation of the previous synthetic methods, a new synthesis route of p- hydroxybenzeneethanol has been proposed in the paper. The route involves a catalytic hydrogenation of 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-dioxane on Pd-C as a key step to obtain the target alcohol at a low cost using styrene oxide as starting material, which could provide a possible green approach to p-hydroxybenzeneethanol industrially.The key intermediates, 2.5-diphenyl-l,4-dioxanes, were synthesized from styrene oxide. The two obtained isomers could be separated through silica gel column chromatography, and the absolute configuration of the trans-isomer was determined by the X-ray crystallography. The following nitration was accomplished at a low temperature (-5 - 0 ℃). Reduction of the nitro group could be carried out under two different conditions, and both gave a good result. Research of the hydrogenation of the 2,5-di(4-substituted aryl)-1,4-dioxanes on Pd-C catalysts provided a solid support for possible green synthesis of p-benzeneethanoland the corresponding 4-substituted benzeneethanolderivatives.