To a stirred mixture of 3´,4´-dihydroxyacetophenone (100 mg, 0.66 mmol) and anhydrous K2CO3 (5 g, 36 mmol) in dry acetone (10 mL) was added MeI (1 mL, 16 mmol). The mixture was heated at reflflux for 45 min, cooled to room temperature, fifiltered, and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in CH2Cl2, washed with 2 portions of water, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4, and evaporated under reduced pressure. The product was purifified by flflash chromatography (silica, hexane/EtOAc 4:1, v/v). Removal of the solvent gave a 93% yield of the product, 3´,4´-dimethoxyacetophenone (110 mg, 0.61 mmol). Reference: Khatib, S.; Nerya, O.; Musa, R.; Shmuel, M.; Tamir, S.; Vaya, J. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2005, 13, 433−441.
