The synthesis of the 4-methyl propiophenone is a very classical Friedel-Crafts acylation of toluene with propionyl chloride in presence of a strong Lewis acid such as anhydrous AlCl3 that only has a tiny amount of 2-methyl-propiophenone. Now brominating the product with bromine in acetic acid or similar results in 2-bromo-4’-methyl-propiophenone. It is only inconvenient to isolate and dry the alpha halogenated ketone since they are all super lachrymators and manipulating it around is hell if the place is not propper.