Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide promoted Selective Bromination of Aromatic Compounds in presence of Zirconyl Nitrate and Ammonium Molybdate under solvent-free conditions

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelle has been found its use for efficient and selective bromination reactions with phenols, anilines and acetanilides have been carried out under solvent free conditions. A mixture of metal salt (Zirconyl Nitrate and Ammonium molybdate), organic substrate and KBr or KBrO₃ are taken in a mortar and grounded with a pestle at room temperature till the reaction is completed. The reactions afforded bromo derivatives in fairly good yields when a mixture of substrate with metal salt-KBr or metal salt-KBrO₃ is used as brominating reagent instead of classical reagent KBr-KBrO₃. Reaction times reduced significantly under solvent-free conditions when compared with solution phase reactions under reflux conditions.

Where, Metal salt = Zirconoyl nitrate and Ammonium molybdate Y= OH, NH₂ and NHCOCH₃; X = electron donating or withdrawing group