GENERAL METHOD: A mixture of 12 g (0.11 mol) of catechol, 17.9 g (0.1 mol) of ethyl 2,3-dibromopropionate, and 41.4 g (0.3 mol) of anhydrous K2CO3 was refluxed for 18 hours in 200 mL of anhydrous acetone. Upon completion of the reaction, acetone was removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane. The organic phase was washed sequentially with water, 5% NaOH solution, 5% HCl solution and saturated NaCl solution and finally dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. After evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure, the residue was distilled to give 15.4 g (74% yield) of ethyl 1,4-benzodioxane-2-carboxylate.
