Phosphorus tribromide

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Phosphorus tribromide
Phosphorus-tribromide-2D-dimensions.png
Phosphorus-tribromide-3D-vdW.png
PBr3.jpg
Names
IUPAC name
Phosphorus tribromide
Other names
phosphorus(III) bromide,
phosphorous bromide,
tribromophosphine
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.253 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
EC Number
  • 232-178-2
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • TH4460000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Br3P/c1-4(2)3 Yes check.svgY
    Key: IPNPIHIZVLFAFP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • BrP(Br)Br
Properties
PBr3
Molar mass 270.69 g/mol
Appearanceclear, colourless liquid
Density 2.852 g/cm3
Melting point −41.5 °C (−42.7 °F; 231.7 K)
Boiling point 173.2 °C (343.8 °F; 446.3 K)
rapid hydrolysis
1.697
Viscosity 0.001302 Pas
Structure
trigonal pyramidal
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS-pictogram-acid.svg GHS-pictogram-exclam.svg
Danger
H314, H335
P260, P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P312, P321, P363, P403+P233, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704.svgHealth 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gasFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 2: Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water. E.g. white phosphorusSpecial hazard W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner. E.g. sodium, sulfuric acid
3
0
2
W
Related compounds
Other anions
phosphorus trifluoride
phosphorus trichloride
phosphorus triiodide
Other cations
nitrogen tribromide
arsenic tribromide
antimony tribromide
Related compounds
phosphorus pentabromide
phosphorus oxybromide
Supplementary data page
Phosphorus tribromide (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Phosphorus tribromide is a colourless liquid with the formula P Br 3. The liquid fumes in moist air due to hydrolysis and has a penetrating odour. It is used in the laboratory for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl bromides.

Contents

Preparation

PBr3 is prepared by treating red phosphorus with bromine. An excess of phosphorus is used in order to prevent formation of PBr5: [1] [2]

P4 + 6 Br2 → 4 PBr3

Because the reaction is highly exothermic, it is often conducted in the presence of a diluent such as PBr3. Phosphorus tribromide is also generated in situ from red phosphorus and bromine. [3]

Reactions

Phosphorus tribromide, like PCl3 and PF3, has both properties of a Lewis base and a Lewis acid. For example, with a Lewis acid such as boron tribromide it forms stable 1 :1 adducts such as Br3B · PBr3. At the same time PBr3 can react as an electrophile or Lewis acid in many of its reactions, for example with amines.

An important reaction of PBr3 is with alcohols, where it replaces an OH group with a bromine atom to produce an alkyl bromide. All three bromides can be transferred. [4]

PBr3 + 3 (CH3)2CHCH2OH → 3 (CH3)2CHCH2Br + HP(O)(OH)2

Several detailed procedures are available. [5] [6] In some cases, triphenylphosphine/Br2 is superior to PBr3. [7]

The mechanism for a primary alcohol involves formation of a phosphorous ester (to form a good leaving group), followed by an SN2 substitution.

PBr3 alcohol rxn.svg

Because of the SN2 substitution step, the reaction generally works well for primary and secondary alcohols, but fails for tertiary alcohols. If the reacting carbon centre is chiral, the reaction usually occurs with inversion of configuration at the carbon alpha to the alcohol, as is usual with an SN2 reaction.

In a similar reaction, PBr3 also converts carboxylic acids to acyl bromides: [8]

PBr3 + 3 RCO2H → 3 RCOBr + HP(O)(OH)2

Applications

The main use for phosphorus tribromide is for conversion of primary or secondary alcohols to alkyl bromides, [9] as described above. PBr3 usually gives higher yields than hydrobromic acid, and it avoids problems of carbocation rearrangement- for example even neopentyl bromide can be made from the alcohol in 60% yield. [10]

Another use for PBr3 is as a catalyst for the α-bromination of carboxylic acids. Although acyl bromides are rarely made in comparison with acyl chlorides, they are used as intermediates in Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky halogenation. [11] Initially PBr3 reacts with the carboxylic acid to form the acyl bromide, which is more reactive towards bromination. The overall process can be represented as

PBr3 HVZ rxn.png

On a commercial scale, phosphorus tribromide is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals such as alprazolam, methohexital and fenoprofen. It is also a potent fire suppression agent marketed under the name PhostrEx.

Phosphorus tribromide is used for doping in microelectronics. [12]

Precautions

PBr3 evolves corrosive HBr, which is toxic, and reacts violently with water and alcohols.

PBr3 + 3 H2O → H3PO3 + 3 HBr

In reactions that produce phosphorous acid as a by-product, when working up by distillation be aware that this can decompose above about 160 °C to give phosphine which can cause explosions in contact with air. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haloalkane</span> Group of chemical compounds derived from alkanes containing one or more halogens

The haloalkanes are alkanes containing one or more halogen substituents. They are a subset of the general class of halocarbons, although the distinction is not often made. Haloalkanes are widely used commercially. They are used as flame retardants, fire extinguishants, refrigerants, propellants, solvents, and pharmaceuticals. Subsequent to the widespread use in commerce, many halocarbons have also been shown to be serious pollutants and toxins. For example, the chlorofluorocarbons have been shown to lead to ozone depletion. Methyl bromide is a controversial fumigant. Only haloalkanes that contain chlorine, bromine, and iodine are a threat to the ozone layer, but fluorinated volatile haloalkanes in theory may have activity as greenhouse gases. Methyl iodide, a naturally occurring substance, however, does not have ozone-depleting properties and the United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated the compound a non-ozone layer depleter. For more information, see Halomethane. Haloalkane or alkyl halides are the compounds which have the general formula "RX" where R is an alkyl or substituted alkyl group and X is a halogen.

In chemistry, a nucleophilic substitution is a class of chemical reactions in which an electron-rich chemical species replaces a functional group within another electron-deficient molecule. The molecule that contains the electrophile and the leaving functional group is called the substrate.

In organic chemistry, an acyl chloride is an organic compound with the functional group −C(=O)Cl. Their formula is usually written R−COCl, where R is a side chain. They are reactive derivatives of carboxylic acids. A specific example of an acyl chloride is acetyl chloride, CH3COCl. Acyl chlorides are the most important subset of acyl halides.

In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction that entails the introduction of one or more halogens into a compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, drugs. This kind of conversion is in fact so common that a comprehensive overview is challenging. This article mainly deals with halogenation using elemental halogens. Halides are also commonly introduced using salts of the halides and halogen acids. Many specialized reagents exist for and introducing halogens into diverse substrates, e.g. thionyl chloride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acyl halide</span> Oxoacid compound with an –OH group replaced by a halogen

In organic chemistry, an acyl halide is a chemical compound derived from an oxoacid by replacing a hydroxyl group with a halide group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen bromide</span> Chemical compound

Hydrogen bromide is the inorganic compound with the formula HBr. 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 temperature. Aqueous solutions that are 47.6% HBr by mass form a constant-boiling azeotrope mixture that boils at 124.3 °C. Boiling less concentrated solutions releases H2O until the constant-boiling mixture composition is reached.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appel reaction</span>

The Appel reaction is an organic reaction that converts an alcohol into an alkyl chloride using triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrachloride. The use of carbon tetrabromide or bromine as a halide source will yield alkyl bromides, whereas using carbon tetraiodide, methyl iodide or iodine gives alkyl iodides. The reaction is credited to and named after Rolf Appel, it had however been described earlier. The use of this reaction is becoming less common, due to carbon tetrachloride being restricted under the Montreal protocol.

The Hofmann rearrangement is the organic reaction of a primary amide to a primary amine with one less carbon atom. The reaction involves oxidation of the nitrogen followed by rearrangement of the carbonyl and nitrogen to give an isocyanate intermediate. The reaction can form a wide range of products, including alkyl and aryl amines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thionyl chloride</span> Inorganic compound (SOCl2)

Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SOCl2. It is a moderately volatile, colourless liquid with an unpleasant acrid odour. Thionyl chloride is primarily used as a chlorinating reagent, with approximately 45,000 tonnes per year being produced during the early 1990s, but is occasionally also used as a solvent. It is toxic, reacts with water, and is also listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention as it may be used for the production of chemical weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphorus pentabromide</span> Chemical compound

Phosphorus pentabromide is a reactive, yellow solid of formula PBr5, which has the structure [PBr4]+Br in the solid state but in the vapor phase is completely dissociated to PBr3 and Br2. Rapid cooling of this phase to 15 K leads to formation of the ionic species phosphorus heptabromide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphorus triiodide</span> Chemical compound

Phosphorus triiodide (PI3) is an inorganic compound with the formula PI3. A red solid, it is too unstable to be stored; it is, nevertheless, commercially available. It is widely used in organic chemistry for converting alcohols to alkyl iodides. It is also a powerful reducing agent. Note that phosphorus also forms a lower iodide, P2I4, but the existence of PI5 is doubtful at room temperature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aluminium bromide</span> Chemical compound

Aluminium bromide is any chemical compound with the empirical formula AlBrx. Aluminium tribromide is the most common form of aluminium bromide. It is a colorless, sublimable hygroscopic solid; hence old samples tend to be hydrated, mostly as aluminium tribromide hexahydrate (AlBr3·6H2O).

α-Halo ketone

In organic chemistry, an α-halo ketone is a functional group consisting of a ketone group or more generally a carbonyl group with an α-halogen substituent. α-Halo ketones are alkylating agents. Prominent α-halo ketones include phenacyl bromide and chloroacetone.

The Hunsdiecker reaction is a name reaction in organic chemistry whereby silver salts of carboxylic acids react with a halogen to produce an organic halide. It is an example of both a decarboxylation and a halogenation reaction as the product has one fewer carbon atoms than the starting material and a halogen atom is introduced its place. A catalytic approach has been developed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky halogenation</span> Chemical reaction

The Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky halogenation reaction is a chemical transformation that involves the halogenation of a carboxylic acid at the α carbon. For this reaction to occur the α carbon must bear at least one proton. The reaction is named after the German chemists Carl Magnus von Hell (1849–1926) and Jacob Volhard (1834–1910) and the Russian chemist Nikolay Zelinsky (1861–1953).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allyl bromide</span> Chemical compound

Allyl bromide (3-bromopropene) is an organic halide. It is an alkylating agent used in synthesis of polymers, pharmaceuticals, synthetic perfumes and other organic compounds. Physically, allyl bromide is a colorless liquid with an irritating and persistent smell, however, commercial samples are yellow or brown. Allyl bromide is more reactive but more expensive than allyl chloride, and these considerations guide its use.

Organomanganese chemistry is the chemistry of organometallic compounds containing a carbon to manganese chemical bond. In a 2009 review, Cahiez et al. argued that as manganese is cheap and benign, organomanganese compounds have potential as chemical reagents, although currently they are not widely used as such despite extensive research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Propargyl bromide</span> Chemical compound

Propargyl bromide, also known as 3-bromo-prop-1-yne, is an organic compound with the chemical formula HC≡CCH2Br. A colorless liquid, it is a halogenated organic compound consisting of propyne with a bromine substituent on the methyl group. It has a lachrymatory effect, like related compounds. The compound is used as a reagent in organic synthesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1-Bromonaphthalene</span> Chemical compound

1-Bromonaphthalene is an organic compound with the formula C10H7Br.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xylylene dibromide</span> Chemical compound

Xylylene dibromide is an organic compound with the formula C6H4(CH2Br)2. It is an off-white solid that, like other benzyl halides, a strong lachrymator. It is a useful reagent owing to the convenient reactivity of the two C-Br bonds. Two other isomers are known, para- and meta-xylylene dibromide.

References

  1. J. F. Gay, R. N. Maxson "Phosphorus(III) Bromide" Inorganic Syntheses, 1947, vol. 2, 147ff. doi : 10.1002/9780470132333.ch43
  2. Burton, T. M.; Degerping, E. F. (1940). "The Preparation of Acetyl Bromide". Journal of the American Chemical Society . 62 (1): 227. doi:10.1021/ja01858a502.
  3. Géza Braun (1934). "Glycerol α,γ-Dibromohydrin". Organic Syntheses. 14: 42. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.014.0042.
  4. C. R. Noller, R. Dinsmore (1933). "Isobutyl Bromide". Organic Syntheses. 13: 20. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.013.0020.
  5. George C. Harrison, Harvey Diehl (1943). "β-Ethoxyethyl Bromide". Organic Syntheses. 23: 32. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.023.0032.
  6. H. B. Schurink (1937). "Pentaerythrityl Bromide and Iodide". Organic Syntheses. 17: 73. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.017.0073.
  7. John P. Schaefer, J. G. Higgins, P. K. Shenoy (1968). "Cinnamyl Bromide". Organic Syntheses. 48: 51. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.048.0051.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. C. W. Smith, D. G. Norton (1953). "Dimethylketene". Organic Syntheses. 33: 29. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.033.0029.
  9. 1 2 Harrison, G. C.; Diehl, H. (1955). "β-Ethoxyethyl Bromide". Organic Syntheses .; Collective Volume, vol. 3, p. 370
  10. Wade, L. G. Jr. (2005). Organic Chemistry (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson/Prentice Hall. p. 477.
  11. Wade, L. G. Jr. (2005). Organic Chemistry (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson/Prentice Hall. p. 1051.
  12. Knoell, R. V.; Murarka, S. P. (1985-02-15). "Epitaxial growth induced by phosphorus tribromide doping of polycrystalline silicon films on silicon". Journal of Applied Physics. AIP Publishing. 57 (4): 1322–1327. Bibcode:1985JAP....57.1322K. doi:10.1063/1.334533. ISSN   0021-8979.

Further reading