Superior to NBS for the regioselective free-radical 2-bromination of pyrrole: J. Org. Chem., 46, 2221 (1981); Org. Synth. Coll., 9, 121 (1998).
Also behaves as a source of positive bromine. Electron-rich aromatic compounds undergo uncatalyzed ring-bromination: Tetrahedron Lett., 38, 4415 (1997). The bromination of less active substrates can be catalyzed by TMS triflate. Bromination of aromatic rings, including those with electron-withdrawing substituents, also occurs in the presence of strong acids: Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 67, 1918 (1994). Has also been used as an alternative to NBS for the ring bromination of activated benzoic acids in the presence of aqueous NaOH: Tetrahedron Lett., 34, 931 (1993).
For use in combination with AgF as a reagent for the trans-fluorobromination of alkenes, see: Chem. Lett., 1877 (1988).
