Regioselective, photochemical bromination of aromatic compounds using N-bromosuccinimide

Regioselective nuclear bromination of aromatic compounds is investigated with N-bromosuccinimide as the brominating agent under UV irradiation to afford the corresponding brominated compounds. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature (30 ± 2 °C) without any catalyst. In most of the reactions, regioselectively mono-brominated products are obtained in good to high yields. The conversion and selectivity for bromination depend on the nature of the substituent on the aromatic ring.