General procedure for the synthesis of 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methoxyacetophenone from 2-bromo-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetophenone: Example 3 Preparation of α-methoxy-4-hydroxyacetophenone. Dissolve 2 g of α-bromo-4-hydroxyacetophenone in 11 g of methanol. 30g of methanol solution of saturated sodium hydroxide (1g NaOH dissolved in 4.2ml methanol) was slowly added dropwise to the above solution. Upon completion of the dropwise addition, the reaction mixture was poured into 30 g of ice water and the pH was adjusted with acid to 6. Subsequently, α-methoxy-4-hydroxyacetophenone precipitated as a precipitate, and after filtration and drying, a yellowish-green product was obtained in about 85% yield. The purity of the product was confirmed by 1H-NMR analysis.
