3-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is synthesised using isovanillin as raw material by chemical reaction. The specific synthesis steps are as follows:
In a round-bottom flask equipped with magnetic stirrer was added 15 sodium borohydride (0.2mmol; 0.01g) to the solution of 9 1 (0.2mmol; 0.03g) prepared in ethanol (1mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30min. The consumption of all starting material was detected by thin layer chromatography (TLC); the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. Subsequently, 10mL of saturated NaCl solution was added and then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×10mL). The organic phase was dried over anhydrous MgSO4, filtered and evaporated, providing 0.03g of colorless oil, 90% yield of 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol.
