2-Bromoethanol → 2-(3-Bromophenoxy)ethanol

To a solution of 3-bromophenol (14) (36.38 g, 210.3 mmol) in acetone (175 ml) was added K2CO3 (0.033 g, 237 mmol) and 2-bromoethanol (20 ml, 283.3 mmol). The mixture was heated to reflux for 4 d under argon then cooled to room temperature. The solids were removed by filtration and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in diethyl ether (150 ml) and washed with water (100 ml), aqueous NaOH (10%, 100 ml, 3×50 mL, 5%, 200 ml), water (100 ml), and brine, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 2-(3-bromophenoxy)ethanol (15) as light brown oil. Yield (21.07 g, 46%): 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.14 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.07-7.12 (m, 2H), 6.85 (ddd, J=7.8, 2.4, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 4.06 (m, 2H), 3.95 (m, 2H), 2.11 (t, J=12.3 Hz. 1H).