Salicylaldehyde

Production

Salicylaldehyde is produced by condensation of phenol with formaldehyde to give hydroxybenzyl alcohol, which is oxidized to the aldehyde. Salicylaldehydes in general are prepared by ortho-selective formylation reactions from the corresponding phenol, for instance by the Duff reaction, Reimer–Tiemann reaction, or by treatment with paraformaldehyde in the presence of magnesium chloride and a base. :[[File:Reimer-Tiemann_Reaction_Scheme.png|300px|Preparation of salicylaldehyde by the Reimer–Tiemann reaction]]

Natural occurrences

Salicylaldehyde is a characteristic aroma component of buckwheat. Salicylaldehyde also occurs in the larval defensive secretions of several leaf beetle species that belong the subtribe Chrysomelina. An example for a leaf beetle species that produces salicylaldehyde is the red poplar leaf beetle Chrysomela populi.

Reactions and applications

Salicylaldehyde is mainly used commercially as a precursor to coumarin. The conversion entails condensation with acetic anhydride ("Perkin synthesis").

1. Oxidation with hydrogen peroxide gives catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) (Dakin reaction).
2. Etherification with chloroacetic acid followed by cyclisation gives the heterocycle benzofuran (coumarone). The first step in this reaction to the substituted benzofuran is called the Rap–Stoermer condensation after E. Rap (1895) and R. Stoermer (1900).
3. Salicylaldehyde is converted to chelating ligands by condensation with amines. With ethylenediamine, it condenses to give the ligand salen. Hydroxylamine gives salicylaldoxime.
4. Condensation with diethyl malonate gives 3-carbethoxycoumarin (a derivative of coumarin) by an aldol condensation. Elbs persulfate oxidation gives gentisaldehyde (2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde).

Internal hydrogen bonding

Due to the ortho positioning of the hydroxy- and aldehyde groups, an internal hydrogen bond is formed between the groups. The hydroxy group serves here as the hydrogen bond donor, and the aldehyde as hydrogen bond acceptor. This internal hydrogen is not found in the other hydroxybenzaldehyde isomers. When the aldehyde is reacted with an amine to form an imine, the internal hydrogen bond is even stronger. In addition, tautomerisation further increases the stability of the compound. The internal hydrogen bond also ensures that the aldehyde (or corresponding imine) is held into the same plane, making the whole molecule essentially flat.

References

References

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