Salicyl alcohol (saligenin) is an organic compound with the formula . It is a white solid that is used as a precursor in organic synthesis.
Salicyl alcohol is produced by the hydroxymethylation of phenol using formaldehyde:
Air oxidation of salicyl alcohol gives salicylaldehyde.
Chemical sweeteners are formed by acetal formation with e.g. isovanillin (Cmp4).
Salicyl alcohol appears as a pharmacophore in several notable ò2-adrenoceptor agonists (e.g. salbutamol), as well as in synthetic estrone analogs, e.g. CID:22940780 or CID:154236944.
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.