An improved and sustainable approach for the synthesis of α,β-dibromo ketones using ceric ammonium nitrate and ammonium bromide

Abstract

A simple and environmentally benign procedure for the bromination of substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yield has been described using ammonium bromide as a brominating agent and ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a single-electron oxidant to afford α,β-dibromoketones. The reaction involves C-Br bond formation by radical method generated by CAN. The reaction can be carried out by either at room temperature, stirring in solvent CH 3CN or under aqueous moist condition with few drops of water by manual grinding in a mortar and pestle.