Studies on the Duff Reaction for the Preparation of O-Hydroxaldehydes

Moderate quantities of a large number of o-hydroxyaldehydes were required for certain investigations being conducted in this laboratory. Numerous attempts to modify and improve the classical Reimer-Tiemann reaction were uniformly unsuccessful either in minimizing the undue time required for the synthesis or in sensibly increasing the meager yields obtained. Of the other reactions which were also employed for the synthesis of these aldehydes the method recently described by Duff was found the most fruitful and expedient