2-Methoxynaphthalene, also called β-naphthol methyl ether, nerolin, or yara yara,"2-methoxynaphthalene", The Good Scents Company, 2012 is a stabilizer found in gunpowder, particularly smokeless gunpowders. It is soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in water and dipropylene glycol.
Studies have also been done on the antiinflammatory effect of β-naphthol methyl ether and on how it behaves in time-resolved resonance Raman studies.
Synthesis and uses Nerolin can be prepared by alkylation of β-naphthol with dimethyl sulfate.(page 987)
Alternative syntheses rely on the reaction of 2-Naphthol with iodomethane and KOH (Williamson ether synthesis),(Chapter 8) or by the reaction with methanol in concentrated sulfuric acid solution.
It has a faint but persistent odor and used to be a scented compound found in soap and other products.
Applications The Friedel–Crafts acylation with propionyl chloride gives 2-propionyl-6-methoxynaphthalene (Promen) [2700-47-2]. This compound has known uses in the synthesis of Doisynoestrol & Methallenestril.
Acetylation gives 2-Acetyl-6-methoxynaphthalene, which has historical use in the synthesis of Naproxen.
Nerolin had found use in the synthesis of 6-Methoxy-1-tetralone [1078-19-9],林晓辉, 杨庆垂, & 淡勇德, CN111333494 (2023 to Wuhan Haixin Pharmaceutical Research Co ltd). which is a critical compound for manifold reasons.
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