A synthetic approach towards novel alkyl 4,5-dibromo-2-methylbenzoate derivatives

Alkyl 4,5-dibromo-2-methylbenzoate derivatives 16–18 were synthesized from 1,2-dibromo-4-alkoxymethyl-5-methylbenzene 2–4 in the presence of catalytic amounts of NBS as a radical initiator. Only primary ether derivatives rendered the corresponding esters.