Regioselective monobromination of aromatics via a halogen bond acceptor-donor interaction of catalytic thioamide and N-bromosuccinimide

Regioselective monobromination of various aromatics was achieved at room temperature using N-bromosuccinimide and 5 mol% of thioamides in acetonitrile. With thiourea as catalyst, activated aromatics, such as anisole, acetanilide, benzamide and phenol analogues containing electron donating or withdrawing groups, were brominated with high regioselectivity. Room temperature brominations of weakly activated aromatics and deactivated 9-fluorenone were accomplished by 5 mol% thioacetamide, higher substrates concentrations and longer reaction times. A backbonding of the bromine lone pairs with the π*of C[dbnd]S group and a halogen bond between the halogen bond donor bromine and the halogen bond acceptor sulfur of the thioamide are thought to be the principal interactions and cause of N-bromosuccinimide activation.