Alkenes hydrobromic acid

Brown s result was supported by later experiments in which bromonium ions were generated by bubbling gaseous hydrobromic acid through a solution of bromohydrins in halogenated solvents. Under these conditions, bromine is eliminated as it is formed, so that the resulting alkene is observed directly (Scheme 15). This method has been applied to the bromohydrins derived from cis- and trans-stilbenes (Scheme 16) and from 5//-dibenzo[a,d]-cycloheptene and -azepine systems ([29a] and [29b] respectively Scheme 17), in which steric constraints should favour elimination (path a) as against substitution (path b). 

Laboratory scale bromination of alkenes in homogeneous solution using an undivided cell is adaptable to the formation of epoxides, bromohydrins or dibromides depending on the conditions [64]. Epoxides are generated using an initially neutral solution and a low concentration of bromide ions. The reaction sequence is similar to that of Scheme 2.3. Formation of bromohydrins requires dilute hydrobromic acid as the supporting electrolyte. Dibromides are obtained using a concentrated solution of sodium bromide as electrolyte. 

Cyclic orthoesters derived from gem-diols offer a further route to alkenes. As part of a three-step conversion, they may be ring opened with hydrobromic acid to give O-acyl bromodeoxy compounds that undergo reductive elimination with copper-zinc. In this way, unsaturated nucleosides have been made by way of mixed 2y3,-bromo-2y3,-deoxy-3,/2, carboxyl-ates.174 A more direct route to alkenes from cyclic orthoesters involves heating in acetic anhydride together with zirconium oxide.175... 

Functionalization of multiple bonds. The sulfenylating agent attacks alkenes and alkynes thus in the presence of hydrobromic acid it results in bromosulfenyla-... 

It is necessary to use different procedures to prepare secondary alkyl bromides from secondary alcohols because such alcohols are easily dehydrated by concentrated sulfuric acid to give alkenes by way of Equations 14.13 and 14.14. In fact, the acid-catalyzed dehydration of secondary and tertiary alcohols is a common method for synthesizing alkenes (Sec. 10.3). This problem may be circumvented by using concentrated hydrobromic acid however, it is better to prepare secondary alkyl bromides by the reaction of secondary alcohols with phosphorus tribromide, PBrg (Eq. 14.16). 

A method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of ether groups in cellulose derivatives with one or more alkoxy and hydroxyalkyl groups has been reported. The groups are degraded with hydriodic or hydrobromic acid and the resulting monoiodoalkanes and alkenes or monobromo- and dibromo-alkanes separated and identified by g.l.c. analysis. 

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