Synthesis of functionally substituted benzaldehydes

Abstract

© 2017, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. A new method of synthesis of functionally substituted benzaldehydes by catalytic debromometoxylation of dibromomethylarenes with benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal has been suggested. Anhydrous zinc chloride has been used as a catalyst. Being soft Lewis acid, it formed no strong complex with aldehyde group and other functional groups. The initial acetal has been readily recovered by the treatment of benzaldehyde isolated from the reaction mixture with trimethyl orthoformate.