Primary intermediates for hair coloring compositions for oxidative dyeing of hair are compounds of the formula (1): wherein R is selected from C1 to C5 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, a C3 to C6 cyclic ring containing hetero atoms selected from O, S and N atoms, and —CH2—Ar where Ar is an aromatic ring wherein the aromatic ring may be substituted with one or two hydroxy C1 to C3 alkoxy, or amino groups.