While swim struggles to dream up tried and tested synths she has wondered if anyone has considered:
1. Hydroquinone + Acetic Anhydride __> Hydroquinone Diacetate, 91 % yield
[Synth in Vogel]
2. Hydroquinone Diacetate + AlCl3 __> 2,5-Dihydroxy Acetophenone, 58% yield
[Synth in Vogel]
3. 2,5-Dihydroxy Acetophenone + DMS __> 2,5-Dimethoxy Acetophenone
[should be straight forward afaik]
4. 2,5-Dimethoxy Acetophenone + S + Morpholine __> 2,5-Dimethoxy Phenylacetic Acid
[Willgerodt-Kindler, not sure how well this would work. The analogous compound from p-methoxy acetophenone is prepared in 63% yield in Vogel]
Admittedly this route requires reagents (Acetic Anhydride, DMS, Morpholine) which most bees (including swim) do not have access to.