Bromination of aromatics

Iron(III) bromide [10031-26-2], FeBr, is obtained by reaction of iron or inon(II) bromide with bromine at 170—200°C. The material is purified by sublimation ia a bromine atmosphere. The stmcture of inoa(III) bromide is analogous to that of inon(III) chloride. FeBr is less stable thermally than FeCl, as would be expected from the observation that Br is a stronger reductant than CF. Dissociation to inon(II) bromide and bromine is complete at ca 200°C. The hygroscopic, dark red, rhombic crystals of inon(III) bromide are readily soluble ia water, alcohol, ether, and acetic acid and are slightly soluble ia Hquid ammonia. Several hydrated species and a large number of adducts are known. Solutions of inon(III) bromide decompose to inon(II) bromide and bromine on boiling. Iron(III) bromide is used as a catalyst for the bromination of aromatic compounds. 

The bromination of aromatic hydrocarbons can occur either in a side chain or on the ring, depending on conditions. In the presence of sunlight aLkylben2enes are brominated predominately in the side chain (24). 

The major organic reactions of BrCl consist of electrophilic brominations of aromatic compounds. Many aromatic compounds do not react in aqueous solution unless the reaction involves activated aromatic compounds (an example being phenol). Bromine chloride undergoes free-radical reactions more readily than bromine. 

Thomson 40W Click Organic Process to view an animation of the bromination of aromatic rings. 

The positive bromination of aromatics ethers was first studied by Bradfield et al.193 and by Branch and Jones194. The reaction of hypobromous acid in 75 % aqueous acetic acid with benzyl 4-nitrophenyl ether and 4-nitrophenetole at 20 °C was very rapid and approximately second-order193. The value of k2/[H+] remained constant in the [H+] range 0.005-0.090 M for the effect of added mineral acids on the bromination of 4-nitroanisole and 4-nitrophenetole (at 19.8 °C)194. The variation in reaction rate with the percentage of acetic acid in the medium was also studied and showed a large increase in the 0-10 % range with a levelling off at approximately 25 % acetic acid (Table 52) this was attributed... 

BROMINATION OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS WITH ALUMINA-SUPPORTED COPPER(II) BROMIDES... 

Our recent studies on effective bromination and oxidation using benzyltrimethylammonium tribromide (BTMA Br3), stable solid, are described. Those involve electrophilic bromination of aromatic compounds such as phenols, aromatic amines, aromatic ethers, acetanilides, arenes, and thiophene, a-bromination of arenes and acetophenones, and also bromo-addition to alkenes by the use of BTMA Br3. Furthermore, oxidation of alcohols, ethers, 1,4-benzenediols, hindered phenols, primary amines, hydrazo compounds, sulfides, and thiols, haloform reaction of methylketones, N-bromination of amides, Hofmann degradation of amides, and preparation of acylureas and carbamates by the use of BTMA Br3 are also presented. 

Fig. 9. Bromination of aromatic ethers with several polyhalides...

Fig. 10. Selective bromination of aromatic ethers with BTMA Bt3...

SIDE-CHAIN BROMINATION OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS Benzylic bromination of arenes... 

We have previously shown (ref. 1) that microporous solids are useful in the controlled bromination of aromatic substrates. In particular, we showed how a reagent system comprising V-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and silica is useful for the bromination of reactive aromatic systems such as indoles (Fig. 1) (ref. 2), carbazoles and iminodibenzyls (Fig. 2) (ref. 3). 

SELECTIVE BROMINATION OF AROMATIC SUBSTRATES Selective Bromination of Toluene... 

Systematic studies of the selectivity of electrophilic bromine addition to ethylenic bonds are almost inexistent whereas the selectivity of electrophilic bromination of aromatic compounds has been extensively investigated (ref. 1). This surprising difference arises probably from particular features of their reaction mechanisms. Aromatic substitution exhibits only regioselectivity, which is determined by the bromine attack itself, i.e. the selectivity- and rate-determining steps are identical. 

Zinc chloride was used as a catalyst in the Friedel Crafts benzylation of benzenes in the presence of polar solvents, such as primary alcohols, ketones, and water.639 Friedel-Crafts catalysis has also been carried out using a supported zinc chloride reagent. Mesoporous silicas with zinc chloride incorporated have been synthesized with a high level of available catalyst. Variation in reaction conditions and relation of catalytic activity to pore size and volume were studied.640 Other supported catalytic systems include a zinc bromide catalyst that is fast, efficient, selective, and reusable in the /wa-bromination of aromatic substrates.641... 

Table 13 Values of p and m for ring-substituent and solvent effects in the bromination of aromatic olefins trans-Ar—C(R)=CHR in methanol at 25°C.

Whereas pure NBS effects side chain bromination of aromatic hydrocarbons, aged material effects bromination of aromatic ring. 

Iron(III) bromide is a catalyst in bromination of aromatic compounds. 

SCHEME 185. Chlorination and bromination of aromatic amines, hydrocarbons and naphthols with in situ generated active halogen... 

Similarly, bromination of aromatic compounds as well as of electron-deficient olefins was carried out in good to excellent yields using (n-Bu4N)2S20g/Br2 or LiBr at 25 °C (equation 36)" . 

Reaction 1 has been postulated both in oxidations of alkanes in the vapor phase (29) and in the anti-Markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide to olefins in the liquid phase (14). Reaction 2 involves the established mechanism for free-radical bromination of aromatic side chains (2). Reaction 4 as part of the propagation step, established in earlier work without bromine radicals (26), was not invoked by Ravens, because of the absence of [RCH3] in the rate equation. Equations 4 to 6, in which Reaction 6 was rate-determining, were replaced by Ravens by the reaction of peroxy radical with Co2+ ... 

See A. G. Mistry, K. Smith and M. R. Bye in D. Price, B. Iddon and B. J. Wakefield, Ed., "Bromine Compounds Chemistry and Applications", Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1988 (contains repons of a conference held in Salford, September 1986), p.277. The process has recently been developed into a general method for para-selective bromination of aromatic ethers H. Konishi, K. Aritoni, T. Okano and J. Kiji, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 1989,62, 591. 

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