The invention discloses a method for highly regioselective bromination of phenolic compounds. In the method, trimethylbromosilane is used as a brominating agent, aryl sulfoxide is used as an activator, and phenolic compounds are mixed at 0-50°C. Stirring and reacting in a solvent and nitrogen atmosphere for 1 to 12 hours to achieve high regioselective bromination of phenolic compounds, and obtaining brominated phenolic compounds through filtration, extraction or separation and purification by column chromatography. The present invention adopts aryl sulfoxide as the activator, and the sulfoxide substituent is large, so that on the one hand, the regioselectivity of the bromination reaction of the phenolic compound is relatively high, and when the phenolic compound has no substituent at the para-position of the hydroxyl group, the regioselectivity is obtained. The product of para-bromo, and when the phenolic compound hydroxyl has a substituent at the para-position, the regioselectivity obtains the product of ortho-bromo; on the other hand, if it is separated and purified by filtration and extraction, the separation and purification of by-products can be realized simultaneously. Recycling, compared with column chromatography, reduces the cost of separation and purification.