Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Tetraalkylphosphonium trihalides. Room temperature ionic liquids as halogenation reagents
Rodrigo Cristiano1, Kefeng Ma, George Pottanat
1Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057-1227, USA.
Abstract:
Six room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) comprised of a tetraalkylphosphonium cation (tridecylmethyphosphonium or trihexyltetradecylphosphonium) and a trihalide anion (Br(3)(-), BrCl(2)(-), or ClBr(2)(-)) have been prepared and characterized. Their ability to effect halogenation reactions with a variety of substrates has been explored. In general, halogenation reactions of alkenes proceed with high yields and stereo- and regioselectivities, whether performed in the absence or presence of a solvent (chloroform). Reactions of an alkyne and electrophilic substitution on an aromatic ring have been investigated as well. The facile preparation of the salts, their ease of handling, and the simplicity of product isolation should make these RTILs useful additions to the repertoire of halogenation reagents and the reagents of choice for specific transformations.
More Related Videos
11:04Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
08:46Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of Phosphorus(I)
Published on: November 22, 2016
Related Concept Videos
02:45Alkyl Halides
Alkyl halides are halogen-substituted alkanes wherein one or more hydrogen atoms of an alkane is replaced by a halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. The carbon atom in an alkyl halide is bonded to the halogen atom, which is sp3-hybridized and exhibits a tetrahedral shape.
Unlike alkyl halides, compounds in which a halogen atom is bonded to an sp2 -hybridized carbon atom of a carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) are called vinyl halides. Whereas aryl...
02:46Halogenation of Alkenes
Consider the bromination of cyclopentene. Molecular bromine is polarized in the proximity of the π electrons of cyclopentene. An electrophilic bromine atom adds across the double bond, forming a cyclic bromonium ion intermediate.
01:26Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...
01:11Reactions at the Benzylic Position: Halogenation
02:38Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
02:35Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation