4-Methoxybenzyl alcohol → 4-Methoxybenzyl 2-bromoacetate

To a -78° C. solution of p-methoxybenzyl alcohol (6.91 g, 50 mmol) and triethylamine (6.95 mL, 50 mmol) in anhydrous CH2Cl2 (50 mL) was added a solution of bromoacetyl bromide (10.1 g, 50 mmol) in CH2Cl2 at -78° C. under nitrogen, over a period of 10 min. The cooling bath was removed, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h. The mixture was washed with water and saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to provide 12 g (93% yield) of p-methoxybenzyl bromoacetate as a dark colored oil which was used in the next reaction without purification. A portion was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (elution with 20% ethyl acetate/hexanes) to give a clear, colorless oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ3.79 (s, 3H), 3.83 (s, 2H), 5.12 (s, 2H), 6.87 (m, 2H), and 7.30 (m, 2H); IR (film) 1738 cm-1 ; MS (ESI/NH4OAc) M+NH4+ =276.