Synthesis
To a suspension of 2.75 g (25 mmol) of catechol in 7 mL (5.5 g, 74 mmol) of ice-cooled tert-butanol, 2.5 mL of concentrated H2SO4 was added dropwise, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 8 hours. Then, a mixture of 25 mL of water and 1.2 mL of dioxane was added, the separated precipitate was filtered off, washed with water to neutral pH, and dried in air to give 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzene-1,2-diol, which can be recrystallized from hexane. Yield: 5.43 g, 98%. mp: 100-101 °C.
Uses
It is an important raw material and intermediate used in organic synthesis, Pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dyestuffs.
Purification Methods
Recrystallise the catechol from pet ether. [ Ley & Müller Chem Ber 89 1402 1956, UV Flaig et al. Z Naturforschung 10b 668 1955.] Also purify it by crystallising three times from pentane [Funabiki et al. J Am Chem Soc 108 2921 1986].
