Salicyl alcohol

Salicyl alcohol (saligenin) is an organic compound with the formula C6HOH(CH2OH. It is a white solid that is used as a precursor in organic synthesis.

Synthesis and applications
Salicyl alcohol is produced by the hydroxymethylation of phenol using formaldehyde:
 * C6H5OH + CH2O  ->  C6H4OH(CH2OH

Air oxidation of salicyl alcohol gives salicylaldehyde.
 * C6H4OH(CH2OH + O  ->  C6H4OH(CHO)  +H2O

Chemical sweeteners are formed by acetal formation with e.g. isovanillin (Cmp4).

Salicyl alcohol appears as a pharmacophore in several notable β2-adrenoceptor agonists (e.g. salbutamol), as well as in synthetic estrone analogs, e.g. CID:22940780 or CID:154236944.

Biosynthesis
Salicyl alcohol is the precursor of salicylic acid. It is formed from salicin by enzymatic hydrolysis by Salicyl-alcohol beta-D-glucosyltransferase or by acid hydrolysis.