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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: AlphaScent on September 11, 2014, 11:00:08 AM

Title: Bromination of a propargyl alcohol
Post by: AlphaScent on September 11, 2014, 11:00:08 AM
I am trying to figure the cheapest way to brominate 2-pentyn-1-ol. 

I first thought Finkelstein may be the way to go via the mesylate.  It is two steps though.

Then I thought triphenylphosphosphine and bromine, but it is costly.

Lastly, I thought about Phosphorus Tribromide.  Will this work easily for propargly alcohols??

Does anyone have any experience??

This is done neat, right?  With pyridine as an HBr scavenger???
Title: Re: Bromination of a propargyl alcohol
Post by: discodermolide on September 11, 2014, 11:05:11 AM
Finkelstein needs low temp to avoid allene formation.
PBr3 is probably the way to go.

Have not done either for a long time now :(
Title: Re: Bromination of a propargyl alcohol
Post by: AlphaScent on September 11, 2014, 02:58:15 PM
I am not doing finkelstein.

I found a great procedure in a book by a chemist named Brandsma.  Has exactly what I need.

Done in ether with a bit of pyridine at -35.  Then bring to rt and reflux for 30 min.

Not bad.
Title: Re: Bromination of a propargyl alcohol
Post by: orgopete on September 11, 2014, 07:14:06 PM
I cannot tell you whether this is good advice or not, but I'd look up your target compound. It looks simple enough that I assume it is known. (For kicks, I'd sometimes compare what they were paying me with the cost of trying a "new" route to a known compound. I didn't try too many new routes. It just wasn't worth it. That is also why I bought something if I could. Just sayin.)
Title: Re: Bromination of a propargyl alcohol
Post by: AlphaScent on September 12, 2014, 09:32:06 AM
ORgopete,

I understand.  We are trying to make starting materials so it is cheaper.  On scale, it will be cheaper.

The PBr3 is the route to take here. 
Title: Re: Bromination of a propargyl alcohol
Post by: zsinger on September 15, 2014, 06:09:19 PM
PBr3 SURELY!  As stated, you will get the allene with Finkelstein if the temp is not uber cold!  Too expensive to conduct, and 2 steps as you said.
      -Zack