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Organic chemicals including pharmaceuticals

Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

Preparation of industrially important organo-bromo compounds using brominating reagent

Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

CSMCRI/CSIR has developed a green brominating reagent (BR-S), an alternate to liquid bromine this reagent could be used for the preparation of various bromo-products such as 4-nitrobenzyl bromide PNBR (used as a protecting group in the synthesis of Penicillin and peptides), tetrabromobisphenol-A TBBP-A (widely used as a fire retardant), tri-bromoaniline TBA (dye intermediate), N-bromosuccinimide NBS (selective bromination source), bromobenzene (intermediate in the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals & fine chemicals) and bromoxynil (selective contact herbicide).

The use of BR-S, depends upon the number of bromide (Br) atoms to be substituted for a substrate, that many equivalents should be used. (Ex. For PNBR, TBBP-A, TBA, the BR-S required will be 1, 4, 3 equivalents respectively).

Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact

Replacement of the corrosive elemental bromine

Safe, easy to handle & transport

Avoids the need of special equipment

Avoids need of catalyst

Maximum bromide atom efficiency

Operates under ambient reaction conditions

Easy to scale-up for the processes’ development

No formation of hazardous byproducts

TRL Level & Scale of Development:
Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):

Bromo-compounds manufacturers, ready at batch scale demonstration

Environmental Considerations:

The process does not generate hazardous by-products. The effluent could be discharged after neutralization.

Status of Licensing:
Licensed technology
Status of Commercialization:
Not yet commercialized
Major Raw Materials Needed

Desired organic substrate, brominating reagent, mineral acid

Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

Glass reactor of desired size/batch with refluxing and cooling facilities

Techno-Economics

The cost varies based on the compound synthesized. The cost of the product would be roughly 1.2 – 2.6 times that of raw material cost.

Technology Package

Preparation of non-hazardous brominating reagent and its applications in the synthesis of organo-bromo derivatives