[learn_rasayan]

Hi :

I am looking for a simple synthetic route for preparing 2-hydroxy mandelic acid.

Thanks for the help.

[pantsboy]

Here's a patent on how to make it by condensation of oxoaceticacid with phenol.  it gives a mixture of both 2- and 4-hydroxy isomers, but the patent discusses seperation procedures.

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6359172/description.html