Boron Tribromide

Introduction

Boron halides are useful reagents in organic chemistry. Among them, boron tribromide must be highlighted, due to the different reactions that it can perform, such as cleavage of ethers, amines, and thiols, and addition to allenes and alkynes. These are many examples of its use in medicinal chemistry, [1] in the synthesis of natural products, [2] and in the development of new organic materials. [3]

BBr₃ is a colourless fuming liquid. It is commercially available neat, or in solution with dichloromethane or hexanes.

Precautions: BBr₃ is highly moisture-sensitive and decomposes in air with evolution of HBr. It must be stored under a dry inert atmosphere. It reacts violently with ­protic solvents such as water and alcohols; ethers are also inappropriate solvents.

References

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