Methyl 3-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)acrylate (2), a new and important starting material for several reactions and a potential precursor of the natural product 3-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)-2-propenal (1), was synthesized from resorcinol and methyl propiolate. The trans configuration of the double bond present in 2 was confirmed through a photoisomerization reaction.
methyl 3-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)acrylate; 3-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)-2-propenal, photoisomerization reaction; synthesis
