Reaction of 3-substituted isocoumarins (la-h) with excess of sodium borohydride in methanol gave the corresponding 2-(2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)ethanol derivatives (2a-h). Antimicrobial activities of synthesized compounds were measured, using Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus).
