Anionic ortho-Fries Rearrangement, a Facile Route to Arenol-Based Mannich Bases

Phenol and 1-naphthol-based carbamates undergo the anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement to their corresponding amides. Bulky substitution at position 8 of 1-naphthol-based carbamates makes the rearrangement an exclusive reaction, even at -90 degrees C, under a variety of conditions. The amides can be efficiently reduced to the corresponding Mannich bases. A novel route to 7-[(dialkylamino)methyl]-8-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehydes is presented.