The synthesis of 4-Ethylresorcinol is as follows:
In a three necked round bottom flask (equipped with a condensor, additional funnel and mechanical stirrer) was added 15.2 g of a combination of Raney Nickel and Ni supported on silica. (50: 50). 100 ml of a mixture of 50: 50 ethanol: water was added and the reaction was heated at reflux conditions. 15.2 g of 2,4-dihydroxy acetophenone in 100 ml of water: ethanol and 10 ml of acetic acid was placed in the additional funnel and slowly added to the mixture (dropwise). The reaction was filtered through a milipore filter to give a pale yellow solution. Concentration of this solution in vacuo gave a solid. This solid was crystalized from 1,2-dichloroethane to give 4-ethyl resorcinol in 80% isolated yield.