Allyl bromide (3-bromopropene) is an

organic halide Halocarbon compounds are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked by covalent bonds with one or more halogen atoms ( fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine – ) resulting in the formation of organofluorine compounds, organoch ...

. It is an

alkylating agent Alkylation is the transfer of an alkyl group from one molecule to another. The alkyl group may be transferred as an alkyl carbocation, a free radical, a carbanion, or a carbene (or their equivalents). Alkylating agents are reagents for effecting al ...

used in synthesis of polymers, pharmaceuticals, synthetic perfumes and other organic compounds. Physically, allyl bromide is a colorless liquid with an irritating and persistent smell, however, commercial samples are yellow or brown. Allyl bromide is more reactive but more expensive than

allyl chloride Allyl chloride is the organic compound with the formula C H2=CHCH2 Cl. This colorless liquid is insoluble in water but soluble in common organic solvents. It is mainly converted to epichlorohydrin, used in the production of plastics. It is a ch ...

, and these considerations guide its use.

Preparation

Allyl bromide is produced commercially from

allyl alcohol Allyl alcohol ( IUPAC name: prop-2-en-1-ol) is an organic compound with the structural formula . Like many alcohols, it is a water-soluble, colourless liquid. It is more toxic than typical small alcohols. Allyl alcohol is used as a raw material ...

and

hydrobromic acid Hydrobromic acid is a strong acid formed by dissolving the diatomic molecule hydrogen bromide (HBr) in water. "Constant boiling" hydrobromic acid is an aqueous solution that distills at and contains 47.6% HBr by mass, which is 8.77 mol/L. H ...

: :CH₂=CHCH₂OH + HBr → CH₂=CHCH₂Br + H₂O It can also be prepared by the halogen-exchange reaction between

and hydrobromic acid or by the allylic bromination of

propene Propylene, also known as propene, is an unsaturated organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CH=CH2. It has one double bond, and is the second simplest member of the alkene class of hydrocarbons. It is a colorless gas with a faint petrole ...

Reactions and uses

Electrophilic properties

Allyl bromide is an electrophilic alkylating agent. It reacts with

nucleophiles In chemistry, a nucleophile is a chemical species that forms bonds by donating an electron pair. All molecules and ions with a free pair of electrons or at least one pi bond can act as nucleophiles. Because nucleophiles donate electrons, they are ...

, such as

amines In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such ...

carbanions In organic chemistry, a carbanion is an anion in which carbon is trivalent (forms three bonds) and bears a formal negative charge (in at least one significant resonance form). Formally, a carbanion is the conjugate base of a carbon acid: :R3C ...

alkoxides In chemistry, an alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol and therefore consists of an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom. They are written as , where R is the organic substituent. Alkoxides are strong bases and, w ...

, etc., to introduce the allyl group: :CH₂=CHCH₂Br + Nu⁻ → CH₂=CHCH₂Nu + Br⁻ (Nu⁻ is a nucleophile) It is used in the synthesis of compounds containing the allyl functionality, such as the pharmaceuticals

methohexital Methohexital or methohexitone (marketed under the brand names Brevital and Brietal) is a drug which is a barbiturate derivative. It is classified as short-acting, and has a rapid onset of action. It is similar in its effects to sodium thiopental ...

secobarbital Secobarbital (as the sodium salt, originally marketed by Eli Lilly and Company for the treatment of insomnia, and subsequently by other companies as described below, under the brand name Seconal) is a short-acting barbiturate derivative drug that ...

and

thiamylal Thiamylal (Surital) is a barbiturate derivative invented in the 1950s. It has sedative, anticonvulsant, and hypnotic effects, and is used as a strong but short acting sedative. Thiamylal is still in current use, primarily for induction in surgica ...

Preparation of Grignard reagent

Allyl bromide reacts with magnesium metal in dry ether to form

allylmagnesium bromide Allylmagnesium bromide is a Grignard reagent used for introducing the allyl group. It is commonly available as a solution in diethyl ether. It may be synthesized by treatment of magnesium with allyl bromide Allyl bromide (3-bromopropene) is an or ...

, a Grignard reagent: :CH₂=CHCH₂Br + Mg → CH₂=CHCH₂MgBr

References

External links

Entry at chemicalland21.com
Organobromides Allyl compounds {{organohalide-stub