4-Bromo-2-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)phenol → 1-(5-Bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylpropan-1-one

4-Bromo-2-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)phenol (4.88 g, 19.9 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (50 mL) then manganese dioxide (2.44 g, 23.8 mmol) was added. After stirring for about 2 h at ambient temperature another portion of manganese dioxide (2.44 g, 23.8 mmol) was added then the mixture was heated to about 40° C. After about 2 d the mixture was filtered then evaporated and the residue purified by flash chromatography on silica gel with 9:1 Heptane/EtOAc as an eluent to give the title compound (0.82 g, 17%): LC/MS (Table 1, Method a) Rt, =3.38 min; MS m/z: 241.1 (M−H)−.