2-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol

Chemical Properties

Salicyl alcohol: (saligenin, o-hydroxy benzyl alcohol) crystallizes from water in the form of needles or white rhombic crystals. It occurs in nature as the bitter glycoside, salicin CAS: 138-52-3, which is isolated from the bark of Salix helix, S. pentandra, S. praecos, some other species of willow trees, and the bark of a number of species of poplar trees such as Polpulus balsamifera, P. candicans, and P. nigra.

Chemical Properties

light brown crystalline powder

Uses

2-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol is a phenolic component of a part of a salix bark extract which maintains a minor anti-depressant effect. Phenolic analog with potential for anti-melanomic effect. Also It is an intermediate in the production of phenol formaldehyde res ins (may remain after condensation of the resin); sensitizer in phenol-formaldehyde resins; in loeal anesthetics.

Uses

anesthetic (local), antiinflammatory

Definition

ChEBI: A hydroxybenzyl alcohol that is phenol substituted by a hydroxymethyl group at C-2.

Synthesis Reference(s)

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 60, p. 5314, 1995 DOI: 10.1021/jo00121a060
Tetrahedron Letters, 10, p. 1739, 1969

General Description

2-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol participates in the selective ring opening reaction of 4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasilines.

Contact allergens

Methylol phenols are sensitizers contained in resins based on phenol and formaldehyde of the resol type. Cross-reactivity is possible with other phenol derivative molecules.

Purification Methods

Crystallise saligenine from water or EtOH/*C6H6 (m 89o). [Beilstein 6 III 4537, 6 IV 5896.]