Abstract

The Bucherer reaction is the reversible conversion of a naphthylamine to a naphthol in the presence of an aqueous sulfite or bisulfite. It has proved to be of value in the synthesis of naphthalene derivatives, particularly in the manufacture of dye intermediates. In certain instances it is conveniently used in the preparation of naphthols from naphthylamines, in others it is employed for the reverse transformation, the synthesis of naphthylamine from naphthols. A second reaction has been extended to the synthesis of certain alkyl and aryl aminonaphthalenes.