Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol

Preparing hydroxytyrosol involves reacting substituted benzene diol derivative with an aluminum compound; adding an aqueous solution of hydroxycarboxylic acid to form a clear homogeneous acidic solution having pH less than 3; extracting hydroxytyrosol from the acidic solution using an organic solvent; and removing the organic solvent. Preparing hydroxytyrosol involves reacting substituted benzene diol derivative of formula (I) with an aluminum compound of formula AlR 7R 8R 9; adding an aqueous solution of hydroxycarboxylic acid to form a clear homogeneous acidic solution having pH less than 3; extracting hydroxytyrosol from the acidic solution using an organic solvent; and removing the organic solvent. X : CH 2OH or CH 2OM; M : Li, Na, K, Mg or Ca; R 1 and R 2 : 1-8C alkyl (optionally aryl substituted), benzyl (optionally alkyl or halogen substituted); R 1+R 2 : -C(R 3)(R 4)- or -CH(R 5)CH(R 6)-; R 3-R 6 : H or 1-6C alkyl, or aryl(optionally alkyl substituted);or R 5+R 6 : -(CH 2) 4-, -(CH 2) 5- or -(CH 2) 6-; R 7-R 9 : H or 1-8C alkyl. [Image] ACTIVITY : Antiinflammatory; Antimicrobial; Antibacterial; Neuroprotective; Apoptotic.