1,5-Dibromopentane → 4-[6-Bromo-1-[(4-methylphenyl)thio]hexyl]-1,2-dimethoxybenzene

A solution of 13.72 g of 1,2-dimethoxy-4-[[(4-methylphenyl)thio]methyl]benzene in 200 mL of tetrahydrofuran (dried over 3A sieves), under nitrogen, is cooled to -78° C. and 30 mL of 1.7M t-butyl lithium is added. After 30 minutes, the solution is transferred, via a canula, into a stirred solution of 14.0 mL of 1,5-dibromopentane in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran, under nitrogen at -78° C. The reaction is slowly warmed to room temperature, and the reaction is quenched by the addition of 4 mL of acetone. The reaction is concentrated in vacuo and the residual material is dissolved in ethyl acetate and is washed with brine. Drying (sodium sulfate) and solvent removal affords 33.22 g of oil. The residue is purified via chromatography on silica gel with gradient elution progressing from hexane to chloroform to methyl alcohol to afford 10.82 g of the desired product as a tan gum.