A NOVEL SYNTHESIS OF 1-(2,4,6-TRIHYDROXY-3,5-DIMETHYLPHENYL)ETHANONE (DI-C-METHYLPHLORACETOPHENONE) AND 2 NEW NONAROMATIC C-BENZYLATED DERIVATIVES

The synthesis of the title compound le was achieved by an easy three-s tep procedure from 1,3,5-benzenetriol (1a, phloroglucinol). Compound 1 a was C-methylated using Mel. The crude mixture obtained was acetylate d to give 1d which was converted into 1e using BF3 . AcOH complex. Ben zylation of the latter with benzyl chloride afforded the new non-aroma tic compound 2. Reaction of 2 with NaOH and benzoyl chloride (Scheme 1 ) gave the new compound 4. Its structure was established by X-ray anal ysis.