A copper(II) neocuproine system has been developed for the efficient and very selective 1,6-addition of a nucleophile to the para-methyl group of 2,4,6-trimethylphenol. Crystallographic and spectroscopic data point towards the involvement of a micro-methoxo-micro-phenoxo-bridged copper species which appears to generate a highly reactive quinone methide intermediate that can be attacked by a nucleophilic reagent.