Abstract
This review describes the chemistry of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene and the related analogues. The synthetic routes reported to obtain the investigated structures are discussed. In addition, the reactivity and the synthesis of fused heterocyclic systems containing one or two heteroatoms are discussed. The compounds derived from 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene are located in the basic skeleton of several natural drugs. The products were applied in the fields of polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, and medicinal chemistry. The different sections cover: methods of preparation, reactions, heterocyclic systems, macrocycles, organosilicon derivatives, coordination chemistry, and biological importance. The assessment relates to the recent reports and contains a short, targeted survey of the title compound for the past 15 years.