Phosphorus tribromide → 1-(Bromomethyl)-4-iodo-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzene

To a solution of [4-iodo-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanol (2.1 g, 6.95 mmol) in DCM (15 ml) in an ice-water bath was added dropwise a solution of phosphorous tribromide (0.66 ml, 7.00 mmol, Aldrich) in DCM (15 ml). The resulting solution was allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred under nitrogen for 2 h. The reaction mixture was poured onto a mixture of ice-water (50 ml) and saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 ml). The biphasic mixture was diluted with DCM (50 ml). The phases were separated and the aqeuous phase washed with DCM (50 ml). The combined organic phases were washed with water (50 ml), dried (MgSO4), filtered and the solvent removed in vacuo to leave 1-(bromomethyl)-4-iodo-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzene as a brown oil (1.24 g).