*WARNING: Question with no theoretical background whatsoever*
What if someone was to para-brominate allylbenzene, or even methamphetamine? Then couldn't the Cu powder and NaOH procedure be used on that to make a -OH substituted allyl benzene or amphetamine? Then if you were to brominate again, would it result in a single bromination right next to the -OH group? If it did, it wouldn't matter what side of the -OH it was on, and then maybe the Cu powder and NaOH again, then methylenation?
Sorry if this is completely wrong, I warned you I have no technical basis for the questions, it was just a thought.