Thermal decomposition of 4,4′-isopropylidene bis-2,6-dibromophenol (tetrabromobisphenol-A)

The thermal decomposition of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) was found to proceed via an autocatalytic free-radical process. The major products of the decomposition are HBr; mono-, di- and tribromobisphenol-A; phenol; mono-, di-, and tribromophenol; and eventually, char. It was generally found that o- and p-halophenols are thermally unstable. In contrast, the m-bromophenol, 3,5-dibromo-2,4,6-trimethylphenol (dibromomesitol) was found to be quite stable. In addition, o- and p-halo-substituted phenols were found to react with LiI at 250°C to produce I₂, while m-halophenols did not. These results are explained by the formation from o- and p-halo-substituted phenols of a reactive halocyclohexadienone.