Preparation of 3-bromo-2-methylfuran and 4-bromo-2-methylfuran

4-endo-5-exo-Dibromo-3-methyl-3,6-endo-oxyperhydrophthalic anhydride 3b and 4-exo-5-endo-dibro-mo-3-methyl-3,6-endo-oxyperhydrophtbalic anhydride 3c were isolated from the bromo-adducts of 3-methyl-3,6-endo-oxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride 2. When 3b or 3c was heated in quinoline, only 3-bromo-2-methylfuran 4 was obtained from 3b and only 4-bromo-2-methylfuran 5 from 3c.