This invention belongs to the field of eumelanin biopolymers, and particularly relates to a method for preparing 5,6-dihydroxyindoline, comprising the following steps: dissolving 3,4-dibenzyloxybenzaldehyde in a reaction
solvent, adding a brominating
reagent, and reacting to obtain 3,4-dibenzyloxy-6-bromobenzaldehyde; mixing the obtained 3,4-dibenzyloxy-6-bromobenzaldehyde with
ammonium formate and
nitromethane, and stirring and heating, followed by a
condensation reaction to obtain 3,4-dibenzyloxy-6-bromo-β-nitrostyrene; and subjecting the obtained 3,4-dibenzyloxy-6-bromo-β-nitrostyrene to hydrogenation reduction, cyclization, and debenzylation reactions in the presence of a catalyst, cuprous
halide, and alkali, using water as the reaction
solvent, to obtain the target product. The synthesis method of this invention has the advantages of readily available raw materials, good reaction selectivity, good yield, mild
reaction conditions, easy product separation, and environmental friendliness, making it suitable for industrial production.