The application discloses o-nitrobenzaldehyde and a synthesis method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of medical intermediates. The synthesis method comprises the following steps: dissolving o-nitrotoluene, dibromohydantoin and
azobisisobutyronitrile in mixed organic solvents to perform a bromination reaction, then performing
filtration,
impurity removal, extraction and organic phase
drying in sequence, and separating o-nitrodibromobenzene; adding the o-nitrodibromobenzene into a DMSO solution, adding
calcium carbonate to perform an oxidation reaction, then performing
filtration, extraction, organic phase
drying and purification and decoloration in sequence, and obtaining o-nitrobenzaldehyde. The o-nitrobenzaldehyde is obtained through a bromination oxidation two-step reaction, the synthesis method has the advantages of simple process, low cost, small
pollution and high product yield.