NOVELTY - Preparing substituted 2-amino-5-hydroxy-benzoic acid compounds (I) comprises: (a) converting substituted 5-fluoro-2-nitro-benzoic acid compounds (II) to substituted 5-hydroxy-2-nitro-benzoic acid compounds (III), where (II) reacts with potassium trimethylsilanolate in presence of solvent; (b) converting (III) to substituted 2-amino-5-hydroxy-benzoic acid compounds (IV), where (III) reacts with oxalyl chloride in presence of solvent to form acid chloride intermediate that is substituted 5-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzoic hypochlorous anhydride compounds (IIIa); and (c) converting (IV) to (I).    USE - The process is useful for preparing (I) (claimed) that is used in production of e.g. alpha -p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, vitamin B1, phenacetin and inhibitors of the hepatitis C Virus polymerase, and azo dyes, direct dyes, sulfur dyes and acid dyes.    ADVANTAGE - The process: is less expensive and utilizes commercially available starting materials; has fewer synthetic steps; exhibits better yields, improved scalability, easier handling, enhanced safety and reduced contamination of the environment; and allows efficient isolation and purification of product.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Preparing substituted 2-amino-5-hydroxy-benzoic acid compounds of formula (I) and their salts, comprises: (a) converting substituted 5-fluoro-2-nitro-benzoic acid compounds of formula (II) to substituted 5-hydroxy-2-nitro-benzoic acid compounds of formula (III), where (II) is reacted with potassium trimethylsilanolate in the presence of a solvent to provide (III) and (III) is obtained via a suitable isolation; (b) converting (III) to substituted 2-amino-5-hydroxy-benzoic acid compounds of formula (IV), where (III) is reacted with oxalyl chloride in the presence of solvent to form an acid chloride intermediate that is substituted 5-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzoic hypochlorous anhydride compounds of formula (IIIa), (III) is reacted with a alcohol to provide (IV), and (IV) is obtained via isolation; and (c) converting (IV) to (I), where (IV) is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst, solvent to provide (I), and (I) is obtained via isolation.    R = 1-6C alkyl or 3-12C cycloalkyl; and    R2-R4 = -NH2, 1-6C alkyl, 3-12C cycloalkyl, -O-1-6C alkyl, -NH(1-6C) alkyl, -NH(3-12C) cycloalkyl, (3-12C)cycloalkyl or -N(1-6C alkyl)2 (all optionally substituted by at least one H, F, Cl, CF3, oxo, CN, 1-4C alkyl, 3-12C cycloalkyl, -OH, -SH, -O(1-6C) alkyl, -S(1-6C) alkyl, -NH2, -NH(1-6C) alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl), H, F, Cl, CF3, CN or -OH.