Abstract

An exceptionally efficient, environmentally safe and economic method has been developed for regioselective α-bromination of various aralkyl ketones in excellent yield with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) under microwave irradiation (CEM discover) without use of either a solvent or a catalyst. After completion of the reaction, the NBS can be regenerated by using an environment friendly brominating agent NaBr/NaBrO₃ in acetic acid. The present procedure offers various advantages such as a very short reaction time, simple work-up procedure, excellent yield of products and recovery of the reagents by green protocol.

Keywords: α-bromination, catalyst free, efficient protocol green bromination, microwave irradiation, N-bromosuccinimide, regeneration, regioselectivity, solvent free.

Graphical Abstract