An environmentally benign synthesis of organic ammonium tribromides (OATB) and bromination of selected organic substrates by tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01818-8

Stable crystalline organic ammonium tribromides (OATB), like Me₄NBr₃, Et₄NBr₃, Bu₄NBr₃, cetyltrimethylammonium tribromide, PyHBr₃, can be readily synthesised from the reaction of the corresponding bromides with V₂O₅ and aqueous H₂O₂. Typically, TBATB, Bu₄NBr₃, brominates a variety of organic substrates rather easily under mild conditions. An activated aromatic ring is selectively brominated in the presence of an olefinic double bond.