Thionyl bromide is the chemical compound SOBr₂. It is less stable and less widely used than its

chloride The chloride ion is the anion (negatively charged ion) Cl−. It is formed when the element chlorine (a halogen) gains an electron or when a compound such as hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water or other polar solvents. Chloride salts ...

analogue,

thionyl chloride Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a moderately volatile, colourless liquid with an unpleasant acrid odour. Thionyl chloride is primarily used as a chlorinating reagent, with approximately per year bein ...

. It is prepared by the action of

hydrogen bromide Hydrogen bromide is the inorganic compound with the formula . It is a hydrogen halide consisting of hydrogen and bromine. A colorless gas, it dissolves in water, forming hydrobromic acid, which is saturated at 68.85% HBr by weight at room temper ...

on thionyl chloride, a characteristic reaction where a stronger acid is converted to a weaker acid: :SOCl₂ + 2 HBr → SOBr₂ + 2 HCl Thionyl bromide will convert

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

s to alkyl bromides and can be used for brominations of certain α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. It may occasionally be used as a solvent.

Safety

SOBr₂ hydrolyzes readily in air to release dangerous fumes of

sulfur dioxide Sulfur dioxide (IUPAC-recommended spelling) or sulphur dioxide (traditional Commonwealth English) is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a toxic gas responsible for the odor of burnt matches. It is released naturally by volcanic activ ...

and

. :SOBr₂ + H₂O → SO₂ + 2 HBr

References

Sulfur oxohalides Oxobromides Thionyl compounds Sulfur(IV) compounds Inorganic solvents {{inorganic-compound-stub