Elfchemist has spoken wisely--dry dry dry for LAH.
I'm also trying to buy intermediates (namely 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl-2-nitroethane) from an English chemical company...
If I can get this intermediate, it's one step catalytic hydrogenation to 2 C-H, and then a simple bromination with HBr and hydrogen peroxide (not Br2--yuck!).
Will keep Bees posted...
TheFiend
(Nobody PM me asking about the English chem house.)
Pacing around and gibbering to myself...