A highly efficient approach to vanillin starting from 4-cresol

A highly efficient approach to the famous flavor and fragrance compound vanillin has been developed starting from 4-cresol with the attention focused on improving the sustainability of all the reactions. The approach involves a three-step sequence of the quasi-quantitative selective clean oxybromination of 4-cresol, the high-yield selective aerobic oxidation of 2-bromo-4-cresol, and the quantitative methoxylation of 3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with the recovery of pure methanol. Herein, the pivotal oxidation and methoxylation reactions are logically investigated and developed into two concise methodologies. As a green alternative, the approach holds significant value for the sustainable manufacturing of vanillin. © the Partner Organisations 2014.