Phosphorus tribromide → 3-(Bromomethyl)-2,4-difluorophenol

To a stirred solution of 2,4-difluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)phenol (step 1, 410 mg, 256 mmol) in diethyl ether (4 mL) and dichloromethane (1 mL) was added phosphorus tribromide (0.257 mL, 2.71 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred for 30 min, and then the mixture was poured onto ice-aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (200 mL), and the organic layer washed with water and brine, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to afford 266 mg (47%) of the title compound as a colorless oil, which was used in the next step without purification: