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

Abstract 3,4‐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 BBr 3 , followed by the addition of MeOH, afforded the corresponding methoxymethyl‐substituted arylphenols in high yields.