Facile 1,2-Aryl Migration of 2-Halomethyl-2-(4′-Hydroxyphenyl) Ketals: A Novel Single Step Synthesis of 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid and Its Derivatives

Abstract

1,2-Aryl migration of 1-halomethyl-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ketals, obtained from 2-bromomethyl 4-hydroxyacetophenone, under mild basic conditions have been shown to give 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid or its derivatives which are key intermediates in the preparation of Atenolol, a well known cardiac β-blocker.