Benzoyl Peroxide → 1-Bromo-3-(bromomethyl)-5-methylbenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

To 5-bromo-m-xylene (24.03 g, 0.13 mole) in benzene (125 mL) was added benzoylperoxide (3.04 g, 0.013 mole). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux in a 250 mL round bottom flask. N-bromosuccinimide (18.15 g, 0.10 mole) was added in portions over 15 minutes. After 2 hours, heating was discontinued and the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. Precipitated solids were removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was taken up in hexane and additional solids were removed by filtration. The filtrate was passed through a small pad of silica gel and the filtrate was concentrated. The resultant yellow oil was titurated with MeOH over ice to give 3-bromo-5-methylbenzyl bromide (7.34 g) as a white solid. MS and NMR were consistent with the desired structure.

Provenance & Evidence