Total Synthesis of the Biologically Active, Naturally Occurring 3,4-Dibromo-5-[2-bromo-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene-1,2-diol and Regioselective O-Demethylation of Aryl Methyl Ethers

3,4-Dibromo-5-[2-bromo-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene-1,2-diol (2), a natural product, has been synthesized for the first time starting from (3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)methanol (5) in five steps and with an overall yield of 34%. The reaction of some methoxymethyl-substituted aryl methyl ethers with BBr3, followed by the addition of MeOH, afforded the corresponding methoxymethyl-substituted arylphenols in high yields.