Mild,Efficient, and Regioselective Monobromination of Arylamines and Phenols Using [BBIm]Br3 as a New Reagent

We report here an efficient method for the synthesis and characterization of the room-temperature ionic liquid 1,3-di-n-butylimidazolium tribromide (BBIm]Br₃) (2) and its application as an efficient reagent and solvent for regioselective bromination of arylamines and phenols under mild conditions. The bromination was carried out in the absence of organic solvents, and in most cases, the only extraction solvent needed was water. The spent 1,3-di-n-butylimidazolium bromide (1) was easily recycled.