The general procedure for the synthesis of 2-amino-4-methoxyphenol from 4-methoxy-2-nitrophenol was as follows: a suspension of 4-methoxy-2-nitrophenol (10 g, 59.17 mmol), methanol (500 mL), and 10% palladium-carbon-catalyst (500 mg) in methanol (5 mL) was added in a round bottom flask. Subsequently, hydrogen was passed through a balloon into the reaction system and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. Upon completion of the reaction, the mixture was filtered through a diatomaceous earth pad to remove the catalyst. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 2-amino-4-methoxyphenol as a brown oil (7.9 g, 96% yield).
