Thionyl bromide

Thionyl bromide is the chemical compound SOBr₂. It is less stable and less widely used than its chloride analogue, thionyl chloride. It is prepared by the action of hydrogen bromide on thionyl chloride, a characteristic reaction where a stronger acid is converted to a weaker acid:

SOCl₂ + 2HBr → SOBr₂ + 2HCl

Thionyl bromide is used for some brominations of certain α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, and it also converts alcohols to alkyl bromides. Otherwise it hydrolyzes readily to release sulfur dioxide:

SOBr₂ + H₂O → SO₂ + 2HBr

Safety

SOBr₂ hydrolyzes readily to release dangerous HBr. It also reacts with acetone to give a hazardous lacrymator.

References

Mundy, B. P. "Thionyl Bromide" in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (Ed: L. Paquette) 2004, J. Wiley & Sons, New York.








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