Bromination of alkylbenzenes in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and its dibromide complex

Alkylbenzenes were subjected to bromination with molecular bromine using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide as solvent. A complex of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide with bromine was synthesized. It ensured bromination of alkylbenzenes with no bromine and solvent. The results of bromination in binary solvents and ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and tribromide were compared. The bromination of ethylbenzene with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tribromide was accompanied by formation of a considerable amount of α-bromoethylbenzene, which is not typical of electrophilic aromatic substitution process.