– Preparation by total demethylation of 2,5-dimethoxy-6- methylacetophenone (SM) with aluminium chloride in refluxing chlorobenzene for 4 h (74%). SM was obtained in three steps from 2,5-dimethoxy-6-methylaniline via the sequence: first, 6-bromo-2,5-dimethoxytoluene (m.p. 97–98°5), then 6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2,5-dimethoxy-toluene (m.p. 40°5–42°5) and finally SM (m.p 59–59°5).
