2-Hydroxy-3',4'-dihydroxyacetophenone

Preparation

Obtained by saponification of its triacetate (SM) (m.p. 94°) with sodium hydroxide (or sodium ethoxide) in ethanol in a water bath for 20 min (33%). SM was prepared by treatment of 3,4-dihydroxy-a-chloroacetophenone with potassium acetate in refluxing acetic anhydride for 15 min (quantitative yield).