Methyl 4-(bromomethyl)-3-methoxybenzoate is prepared by the following steps:A mixture of methyl 3-methoxy-4-methylbenzoate 37 (5 g, 27.8 mmol), NBS (4.94 g, 27.8 mmol), and benoyl peroxide (0.0008 g, 0.003 mmol) was refluxed in CCl4 (25 ml) for 10 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool and filtered. The residue was washed with CCl4 and the combined filtrate concentrated in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography over silica gel (5-10% EtOAc-pet ether) furnished a colourless solid (7.19 g).Yield : 100%
