Total Synthesis of the Biologically Active, Naturally Occurring 3,4‐Dibromo‐5‐[2‐bromo‐3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene‐1,2‐diol and Regioselective O‐Demethylation of Aryl Methyl Ethers

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Abstract3,4‐Dibromo‐5‐[2‐bromo‐3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene‐1,2‐diol (2), a natural product, has been synthesized for the first time starting from (3‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)methanol (5) in five steps and with an overall yield of 34%. The reaction of some methoxymethyl‐substituted aryl methyl ethers with BBr3, followed by the addition of MeOH, afforded the corresponding methoxymethyl‐substituted arylphenols in high yields.