Regioselective, photochemical bromination of aromatic compounds using N-bromosuccinimide

Regioselective nuclear bromination of aromatic compounds is investigated with N-bromosuccinimide as the brominating agent under UV irradiation to afford the corresponding brominated compounds. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature (30 +/- 2 degrees C without any catalyst. In most of the reactions, regioselectively mono-brominated products are obtained in good to high yields. The conversion and selectivity for bromination depend on the nature of the substituent on the aromatic ring. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.