O-Isopropoxyphenol (3) 1 is a synthon for the carbamate insecticide propoxur (1). 2 Various methods have been reported for the preparation of (3) by dehydrogenation3 of 1, 2cyclohexanedione monoenol ether or by m~ noalkylation~ of catechol by isopropyl bromide. All the reported methods involve high temperature, pressure, long reaction time and use of phase-transfer catalysts. As most of the previous literature is covered by ...