A computational approach to understanding the mechanism of aromatic bromination using quaternary ammonium tribromides

Quaternary ammonium tribromides (QATBs) have garnered interest for nearly a century now. Various types of tribromides have been synthesized over the years and their diverse applications have been extensively reported. However, despite the fact that these reagents are touted as safer alternatives to the very poisonous bromine, there is insufficient information on the structure of Br₃^? in QATB systems and there is still no clear explanation for how the tribromide ion (Br₃^?) participates in bromination reactions. This paper reports a through structural assessment of Br₃^?, followed by an attempt was made to fully understand the mechanistic behaviour of tribromide during bromination of aromatic compounds.