Bioinspired catalytic bromination systems for bromoperoxidase

Abstract

The oxidative bromination of arenes is induced by a vanadium catalyst in the presence of a bromide salt and a Bronsted acid or a Lewis acid under molecular oxygen, which provides an eco-friendly bromination method as compared with a conventional bromination one with bromine. This catalytic bromination can be applied to the bromination of alkenes and alkynes to give the corresponding vic-dibromides. Use of aluminium halide as a Lewis acid in place of a Bronsted acid is demonstrated to provide a more practical protocol for the oxidative bromination. From ketones, α-bromination products are obtained. AlBr3 is found to serve as both a bromide source and a Lewis acid for the smooth bromination reaction.