Efficient and Selective Reduction Protocols of the 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-benzodioxan-4-one Functional Group to Readily Provide Both Substituted Salicylaldehydes and 2-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohols

Two complementary procedures have been developed that selectively allow for the synthesis of either substituted salicylaldehydes or the corresponding 2-hydroxylbenzyl alcohols upon treatment of the 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-benzodioxan-4-one functional group with DIBAL-H or LAH, respectively.