Abstract
Currently, the synthesis of p-methoxyphenol requires a separate and long synthesis of benzoquinone. Benzoquinone is a required catalyst in the monomethylation of hydroquinone. The new method generates benzoquinone in-situ by bromine catalyzed peroxide oxidation.

Experimental
To 950ml of methanol in a cooled 2L round bottom flask, 130ml of concentrated sulfuric acid is added. The addition is exothermic, so the addition takes time. In a separate flask, 2g of elemental bromine is dissolved in 8ml of methanol. The bromine-methanol solution is then added to the sulfuric acid-methanol solution, which takes on an orange tint. 122g of hydroquinone is then dissolved, followed by two 10ml portions of 35% hydrogen peroxide. At this point the solution turns very dark, almost black. A condenser is attached, and the solution is refluxed for 5 hours. The reflux condenser is then replaced with a distillation head, and 300ml of methanol is distilled off. The solution is then crashed with 300ml of brine, and extracted with xylene (250ml and 150ml). A flashlight may be required to see the phases, both are very dark. The xylene extracts are then washed with brine, which takes on a yellow tint. The xylene is then distilled off, leaving approximately 70g of a black tar in the distillation flask. At this point, either a short path condenser (no coolant) or a three way adapter attached to a vacuum takeoff (no condenser in between) must be used. Otherwise the condenser would fill with crystallized p-methoxyphenol. p-methoxyphenol comes over as a yellow condensate at 150^oC using a worn out vacuum. Yield: 40g of white/yellow crystals (35%). Ideally the crystals would then be recrystallized from ethyl acetate.

Discussion
This synthesis gives a shorter and, in my opinion, easier route to p-methoxyphenol than making benzoquinone in a separate synthesis. These results are from the first run, and the reaction can certainly be optimized. Yields of 80g (70%) should be attainable. Perhaps a longer reaction time would work.

References

Facile and Convenient Synthesis of Quinones from Phenols
Fransesco Minisci, Attilio Citterio, Elena Vismara, Fransesca Fontana, and Silvia De Bernardis
J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 728-731

Klute's method for p-methoxyphenol production
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?fid=10&tid=9835&action=printable

Thoughts?

I was thinking the same thing about using a bromide salt, although an iodide would probably work better. The amount of hydroquinone would have to be tweaked too though, because the current numbers assume 50% conversion to benzoquinone.

Haha well I don't know how he feels about legality, it was either him, or a very close friend of his that prepared it.  I'm not quite sure, perhaps he could clarify

Iodine tincture is actually becoming harder and harder to find, for multiple reasons.  Although if you can find it, one could easily sub it in after appropriate calculations.

@heisenberg - What do you mean by the hydroquinone would have to be tweaked? If one adds just enough H2O2 to oxidize the halogen out of the salt, it should be identical to adding pure halogen (other than having a few extra group 1 ions floating about)

@heisenberg - What do you mean by the hydroquinone would have to be tweaked? If one adds just enough H2O2 to oxidize the halogen out of the salt, it should be identical to adding pure halogen (other than having a few extra group 1 ions floating about)

The yield of the benzoquinone catalyst would change using NaBr, NaI, etc. as opposed to straight Br2. So, the amount of hydroquinone used would have to be tweaked to ensure a proper amount of benzo.