Process intensification-assisted conversion of α,ω-alkanediols to dibromides

Abstract

The increasingly widespread applications of α,ω-dibromides motivated development of a scalable, inexpensive process to rapidly convert selected α,ω-alkanediols to the corresponding dibromides. Diols were heated with only 48% aq HBr and an organic solvent, using a Dean–Stark apparatus modified to fractionate the azeotropic distillate, thereby maintaining a higher HBr concentration and reaction rate in the pot. Intensified distillation also increased the reaction rate. Various other substrate, solvent, and parameter effects have been discovered and rationalized.