Naphthols

Naphthols 

hydroxynaphthalenes, naphthalene derivatives of the general formula C₁₀H₈–_n(OH)_a. The commercially valuable forms are α and β-naphthols and 1,5-, 1,8-, 2,3-, and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalenes; the latter occur as colorless crystalline solids that are moderately soluble in water but insoluble in weak acids. Naphthols and their derivatives (mainly sulfonic acids) are used in the manufacture of dyes; β-naphthol methyl ether (yara-yara) and β-naphthol ethyl ether (neroli oil) are used in cosmetics manufacture for the preparation of soap perfumes. The largest single use of β-naphthol is in the manufacture of phenyl-β-naphthylamine (a stabilizing agent for natural and synthetic rubber).