Short synthesis of tert-butyl-hydroxylated 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde: Synthesis of tert-butyl-hydroxylated S-2474

We have developed a very short synthesis of tert-butyl-hydroxylated di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde in which the HBr-DMSO system is used as an effective oxidant (overall yield of 45% for the entire four-step process from 2-tert-butyl-p-cresol). We also accomplished the synthesis of a major metabolite of the antiarthritic drug candidate S-2474.